The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine : full report.
Date: 2023-04-20
Institutions: Directorate-General for Communication
Subjects: EU energy policy, European Union, Russo-Ukrainian issue, common security and defence policy, economic policy, economic recovery, foresight, public opinion, report

Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 

The EU’s response to the war in 
Ukraine  

Full report  

Fieldwork: January – February 2023 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Survey conducted by Kantar at the request of the European Commission, 

Survey co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication 

(DG COMM “Media monitoring and Eurobarometer Unit”) 

Standard Eurobarometer 98 – Winter 2022-2023 – 

The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

EN 

NA-AO-23-003-EN-N 

978-92-68-00932-1

1977-3927 

10.2775/900417 

doi:

Project title 

Language version 

Catalogue number 

ISBN 

ISSN 

© European Union, 2023 

https://www.europa.eu/eurobarometer 

Photo credit: Getty Images 

Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022 - 2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

INTRODUCTION 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

I. 

II. 

THE EU’S RESPONSE TO THE INVASION OF UKRAINE 

THE ACTIONS TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO THE INVASION 

III.  CONSEQUENCES OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE 

IV.  EUROPEAN SECURITY UNDER THREAT 

V. 

FUTURE EU ACTIONS IN THE WAKE OF THE WAR 

1.  Defence co-operation in the EU 

2. 

3. 

Energy security in the EU 

Economic challenges in the EU 

CONCLUSION 

4 

8 

11 

16 

29 

34 

39 

40 

46 

57 

60 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INTRODUCTION

 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

Summer  2022  Standard  Eurobarometer  97).  The  survey  covers 
five topic areas identified by the European Commission:  

▪ 

The  EU’s  response  to  the  invasion  of  Ukraine:  Are 
Europeans  satisfied  with  the  response  to  the  Russian 
invasion  of  Ukraine  by  the  EU  and  their  national 
government? 

▪  Actions  taken  as  a  response  to  the  invasion:  Do 
Europeans agree with various actions taken by the EU as a 
response  to  Russia’s  invasion  of  Ukraine?  Do  Europeans 
agree  that  by  standing  against  the  Russian  invasion  of 
Ukraine, the EU is defending European values? 

▪  Consequences  of  the  war  in  Ukraine:  Do  Europeans 
agree  that  the  war  in  Ukraine  has  had  serious  financial 
consequences for them personally, and serious economic 
consequences for their country? 

▪  European  security  under  threat:  Is  the  invasion  of 
Ukraine seen as a threat to the security of the EU or to their 
country? 

▪ 

Future EU action in the wake of the war: What are the 
views  of  Europeans  on  defence  co-operation  in  the  EU? 
How  do  Europeans  perceive  issues  related  to  energy 
security and renewable energy? How effective can the EU’s 
recovery  plan,  ‘NextGenerationEU’  be  in  responding  to 
current economic challenges? 

The  Standard  Eurobarometer  98.2  (EB98)  survey  Winter  2022-
2023 was conducted from 12 January to 6 February 2023 in 39 
countries  or  territories:  the  27  Member  States  of  the  European 
Union (EU), seven candidate countries (Albania, Montenegro, North 
Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia, Türkiye and Bosnia and Herzegovina), 
the  Turkish  Cypriot  Community  in  the  part  of  the  country  not 
controlled by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as 
in Kosovo1, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.  

The full report of the Standard Eurobarometer 98 survey consists 
of  multiple  volumes.  The  first  volume  presents  the  results  of 
general questions about the state of public opinion in the European 
Union. Four other volumes present Europeans’ opinions about the 
following  topics:  the  European  Union’s  priorities,  European 
citizenship,  media  uses,  and  opinions  regarding  the  Russian 
invasion of Ukraine.  

On  24  February  2022,  Russia  invaded  Ukraine.  The  EU  stands 
united in its unwavering support to Ukraine in the face of Russia’s 
invasion.  The  EU  has  stepped  up  its  political,  humanitarian, 
financial and military support to Ukraine and is imposing massive 
sanctions against the Kremlin to cripple its war machine.  

Since  the  invasion,  the  EU,  its  Member  States  and  its  financial 
institutions have come together in a “Team Europe approach2” to 
make available €37.8 billion to support Ukraine's economic, social 
and  financial  resilience.  This  approach,  defined  by  the European 
Union as a joining of Member States’ forces in external action to 
improve effectiveness and impact, has taken the form of macro-
financial assistance, budget support, emergency assistance, crisis 
response and humanitarian aid.  

In addition, military assistance measures total around €12 billion, 
of  which  €3.6  billion  have  been  mobilised  under  the  European 
Peace Facility. 

This brings the total support made available so far to Ukraine since 
the  beginning  of  Russia's  aggression  to  around  €50  billion.  In 
addition  to  this,  the  Commission  is  working  towards  a  €1  billion 
contribution  to  fast  recovery.  Together  with  the  resources  made 
available  to  help  Member  States  cater  for  needs  of  Ukrainians 
fleeing  the  war  in  the  EU,  the  overall  support  to  Ukraine  and 
Ukrainians amounts to around €67 billion3. 

On  28  February  2022,  Ukraine  presented  its  application  for  EU 
membership, followed on 3 March by the Republic of Moldova and 
Georgia.  On 23  June  2022,  the  European  Council granted 
candidate status to Ukraine. It invited the European Commission to 
report to the Council on the fulfilment of the conditions specified 
in the Commission's opinion on the membership application as part 
of the Commission's regular enlargement package. The Council will 
decide on further steps once all these conditions are fully met. 

This  volume  of  the  winter  2022-2023  Standard  Eurobarometer 
survey  analyses  European  citizens’  opinions  about  the  war  in 
Ukraine  and  its  consequences.  It  follows  earlier  surveys  on  the 
same  subject  in  June-July  20224,  and  October-November  20225 
and this report includes comparisons with the previous survey (the 

1 This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line 
with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of 
independence. 
2 Team Europe Initiatives (europa.eu) 

3 EU assistance to Ukraine (europa.eu) 
4 https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2693 
5 https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2892 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

*  Cyprus  as  a  whole  is  one  of  the  27  European  Union  Member 
States. However, the ‘acquis communautaire’ has been suspended 
in the part of the country which is not controlled by the government 
of the Republic of Cyprus. For practical reasons, only the interviews 
carried out in the part of the country controlled by the government 
of the Republic of Cyprus are included in the ‘CY’ category and in 
the EU27 average. 

We wish to thank the people throughout Europe who 
have given their time to take part in this survey.  

Without their active participation, this study would 
not have been possible

Methodology 

The  methodology  used  is  that  of  the  Standard  Eurobarometer 
surveys carried out by the Directorate-General for Communication 
(“Media  monitoring  and  Eurobarometer”  Unit)67.  A  technical  note 
relating  to  the  interviews  carried  out  by  institutes  of  the  Kantar 
network is attached as an appendix to this report. It also specifies 
confidence intervals.  

Following  the  EU  General  Data  Protection  Regulation8  (GDPR), 
respondents  were  asked  whether  or  not  they  would  agree  to  be 
asked questions on issues that could be considered “sensitive”. 

Note: In this report, EU countries are referred to by their official 
abbreviation. The abbreviations used in this report correspond to: 

Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czechia 
Denmark  
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece  
Spain 
France 
Croatia 
Italy 
Republic of Cyprus 
Latvia 

Turkish Cypriot 
Community 

Albania 
Bosnia and 
Herzegovina 
Moldova 
Montenegro 

Norway 
Kosovo9 

BE 
BG 
CZ 
DK 
DE 
EE 
IE 
EL 
ES 
FR 
HR 
IT 
CY* 
LV 

AL 
BA 

MD 
ME 

NO 
XK 

European Union - weighted 
average for the 27 Member 
States of the European Union 

BE, FR, IT, LU, DE, AT, ES, PT, IE, 
NL, FI, EL, EE, SI, CY, MT, SK, 
LV, LT, HR 

Lithuania  
Luxembourg  
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal  
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 

LT 
LU 
HU 
MT 
NL 
AT 
PL 
PT 
RO 
SI 
SK 
FI 
SE 

CY 
(tcc) 

North Macedonia  MK 
RS 
Serbia 

TR 

CH 
UK 

Türkiye 

Switzerland 
The United 
Kingdom 

EU27 

Euro area 

BG, CZ, DK, HU, PL, RO, SE 

Outside euro area 

6 https://www.europa.eu/eurobarometer   
7 The results tables are annexed. It should be noted that the total of the 
percentages indicated in the tables in this report may exceed 100% when 
the respondent was able to choose several answers to the same question. 
8 2016/679 

9 This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line 
with  UNSCR  1244/99  and  the  ICJ  Opinion  on  the  Kosovo  declaration  of 
independence. 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

7 

 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

The majority of Europeans are satisfied with the response 
to  the  Russian  invasion  of  Ukraine  by  their  national 
government and by the EU. Attitudes have remained stable 
since June-July 2022. 

▪  More than half of Europeans (55%, no change since June-
July 2022) are satisfied with the response to the Russian 
invasion  of  Ukraine  by  their  national  government,  while 
four in ten (no change) are dissatisfied. 

▪ 

▪ 

Almost six in ten (56%, -1 percentage point) are satisfied 
with the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by the 
EU,  while  more  than  a  third  (38%,  +1  pp)  say  they  are 
dissatisfied. 

Satisfaction  with  the  EU  response  is  highest  in  Portugal, 
Ireland,  Poland,  Denmark  and  Finland.  In  five  Member 
States, a majority of respondents are dissatisfied with the 
EU  response:  Greece,  Slovakia,  Slovenia,  Estonia  and 
Cyprus. 

▪ 

Around six in ten respondents (63%, +1 pp) agree that the 
war in Ukraine has serious financial consequences for them 
personally, whereas 35% (-1 pp) disagree. 

There is widespread agreement that the invasion of Ukraine 
is a threat to the security of the EU and to Member States. 
Levels of agreement have remained stable since June-July 
2022. 

▪ 

▪ 

Around eight in ten Europeans (81%, -2 pp) agree that the 
invasion  of  Ukraine  is  a  threat  to  the  security  of  the  EU, 
including 46% (+1 pp) who “totally agree”. Around one in 
seven respondents (15%, +2 pp) disagree. 

Around  three  quarters  of  respondents  (76%,  no  change) 
agree that the invasion of Ukraine is a threat to the security 
of their country, while a fifth (no change) disagree with this 
statement. Respondents are most likely to agree in Poland, 
Lithuania  and  Sweden,  while  levels  of  agreement  are 
lowest in Cyprus, Bulgaria, Austria and Greece. 

There is strong and continuing support for the actions taken 
by the EU in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine 

Europeans express support for defence co-operation in the 
EU and for increased spending on defence 

▪ 

▪ 

▪ 

▪ 

▪ 

Europeans express strong levels of support for a number 
of  actions,  although  attitudes  have  become  slightly  less 
positive since June-July 2022.  

Around  nine  in  ten  Europeans  agree  with  providing 
humanitarian  support  to  the  people  affected  by  the  war 
(91%, -1 pp) and welcoming in the EU people fleeing the 
war (88%, -2 pp).  

Around  three  quarters  agree  with  providing  financial 
support  to  Ukraine  (77%,  -4  pp)  and  imposing  economic 
sanctions  on  Russian  government,  companies,  and 
individuals (74%, -4 pp). 

Around two thirds agree with banning state-owned media 
such as Sputnik and Russia Today from broadcasting in the 
EU  (67%,  -3  pp),  while  around  a  quarter  (24%,  +2  pp) 
disagree.  A  similar  proportion  agree  with  financing  the 
purchase and supply of military equipment to the Ukrainian 
government  (65%,  -3  pp),  although  around  three  in  ten 
(29%, +3 pp) disagree. 

Around eight in ten Europeans (78%, -1 pp) agree that “by 
standing against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU is 
defending European values”, while 16% (+1 pp) disagree. 

The majority of Europeans continue to  think that the war 
has10  serious  economic  consequences,  personally  and  for 
their country 

▪  More than eight in ten Europeans (86%, -2 pp) agree that 
the war in Ukraine has serious economic consequences for 
their  country,  while  around  one  in  ten  (11%,  +1  pp) 
disagree. 

▪ 

▪ 

Around eight in ten respondents (82%, -2 pp) agree that 
“co-operation  in  defence  matters  at  EU  level  should  be 
increased”,  while  eight  in  ten  (no  change)  agree  that 
“Member States’ purchase of military equipment should be 
better coordinated”. 

Around seven in ten Europeans (69%, -2 pp) agree that “the 
EU  needs  to  reinforce  its  capacity  to  produce  military 
equipment”,  while  around  one  in  five  (22%,  +1  pp) 
disagree.  Around  seven  in  ten  (68%,  -2  pp)  agree  that 
“more money should be spent on defence in the EU”, with 
24% (+1 pp) disagreeing with this statement. 

Europeans are positive towards the benefits of renewable 
energy and for EU-wide co-ordination in energy security 

▪  More than eight in ten respondents (86%, -1 pp) agree that 
“the  EU  should  invest  massively  in  renewable  energies, 
such as wind and solar power”, while a similar proportion 
(84%, no change) agree that “reducing imports of oil and 
gas and investing in renewable energy is important for our 
overall security”. Eight in ten (no change) agree that “in the 
long run, renewable energy can limit the price we pay for 
our energy consumption”.  

▪  On  energy  efficiency,  more  than  eight  in  ten  (85%,  no 
change)  agree  that  “increasing  energy  efficiency  of 
buildings, transport, and goods will make us less dependent 
on energy producers outside the EU”. Similarly, 82% (-1 pp) 
agree  that  “EU  Member  States  should  jointly  buy  energy 
from other countries to get a better price”. 

▪  When asked about Russian sources of energy specifically, 
more  than  eight  in  ten  (84%,  -2  pp)  agree  that  “the  EU 

10 In ST97, the item was “the war in Ukraine has had serious economic consequences 
for …”. In this new survey, it was modified to “the war in Ukraine has serious economic  

consequences for …” in all countries, except France, Italy and Latvia.   

9 

 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

should reduce its dependency on Russian sources of energy 
as soon as possible”, while just over one in ten (12%, +2 
pp) disagree. 

▪ 

Around eight in ten respondents (81%, +3 pp) agree that 
they  “have  recently  taken  action  to  reduce  [their]  own 
energy  consumption,  or  [they]  plan  to  do  so  in  the  near 
future”,  while  one  in  five  (16%,  -3  pp)  disagree.  On  this 
issue, there has been an increase in agreement since June-
July 2022, whereas, for the other statements, results have 
remained  very  consistent  with  those  seen  in  June-July 
2022. 

Most  Europeans  think  that  ‘NextGenerationEU’  can  be  an 
effective  measure  to  respond  to  the  current  economic 
challenges 

▪ 

The  majority  of  Europeans  (54%,  -2  pp)  think  that  the 
recovery  plan  of  the  EU,  ‘NextGenerationEU’,  can  be  an 
effective  measure  to  respond  to  the  current  economic 
challenges, while three in ten (31%, +1 pp) think that it is 
not effective. 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

I. 

THE  EU’S  RESPONSE  TO  THE 
INVASION OF UKRAINE 

11 

 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

The  first  chapter  of  the  report  examines  public  satisfaction  with 
the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by the EU and by 
national governments. 

A stable majority of Europeans are satisfied with 
the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by 
their national government and by the EU 

Attitudes to the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine have 
remained stable since June-July 2022. 

More  than  half  of  respondents  (55%,  no  change  since  June-
July  2022)  are  satisfied  with  the  response  to  the  Russian 
invasion of Ukraine by their national government, including 
12%  (no  change)  who  are  “very  satisfied”  and 43%  (no  change) 
who are “fairly satisfied”. By contrast, four in ten (no change) say 
they  are  dissatisfied  with  the  response  of  their  national 
government,  including  27%  (no  change)  who  are  “not  very 
satisfied” and 13% (no change) who are “not at all satisfied”. 

Almost  six  in  ten  (56%,  -1  percentage  point  since  June-July 
2022)  are  satisfied  with  the  response  to  the  Russian 
invasion of Ukraine by the EU, including 11% (no change) who 
are “very satisfied” and 45% (-1 pp) who are “fairly satisfied”. More 
than a third (38%, +1 pp) say they are dissatisfied, including 25% 
(no change) who are “not very satisfied” and 13% (+1 pp) who are 
“not at all satisfied”11.  

11 QE1. In general, how satisfied are you with the response to the Russian 
invasion  of  Ukraine  by  …?  1)  The  (NATIONALITY)  government.  2)  The 
European Union.  

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In  19  EU  Member  States,  a  majority  of  respondents  are 
satisfied  with  the  response  to  the  Russian  invasion  of 
Ukraine by their national government. Levels of satisfaction 
are  highest  in  Finland  (88%),  Denmark  (82%),  Sweden  (80%), 
Ireland 
(76%)  and  the 
Netherlands (75%).  

(78%),  Lithuania 

(77%),  Portugal 

In  eight  Member  States,  respondents  are  more  likely  to  be  ‘not 
satisfied’ than satisfied: Greece (62% dissatisfied), Slovakia (61%), 
Bulgaria (58%), Slovenia (51%), Germany and Spain (both 49%), 
Cyprus (48%) and Romania (47%). 

Since June-July 2022, satisfaction with the response to the 
Russian  invasion  of  Ukraine  by  the  national  government 
has  increased  in  ten  Member  States,  most  notably  in  the 
Netherlands (75%, +13 percentage points), Croatia (63%, +6 pp), 
Sweden (80%, +5 pp) and Lithuania (77%, +5 pp). 

Perceptions have become more negative in 15 countries, with large 
decreases in satisfaction seen in Hungary (52%, -17 percentage 
points) and Slovakia (34%, -10 pp). There has been no change in 
Finland (88%) and Bulgaria (34%). 

13 

EU27NLHRLTSEFRITPLCYDKLUBGFIBECZELATSIEEESLVPTROIEDEMTSKHUJan/Feb 202355756377805055724782693488635333514462466476467847703452Δ Jun/Jul 2022=p13p6p5p5p3p3p3p2p1p1==q1q1q1q1q1q2q2q2q2q2q3q4q8q10q17Jan/Feb 202340243320193841254815195810334562455130492917471849226144Δ Jun/Jul 2022=q12q5q5q6q3q4q4=q2q2q1q1q1p1q2p1=p2p4p1p1p1p4p3p2p6p14Jan/Feb 2023514311243531282425458577744854Δ Jun/Jul 2022=q1q1=p1=p1p1q2p1p1p1p1p2=p3=p1=q2p1p1p1q1p1p6p4p3Total 'Satisfied'Total 'Not satisfied'Don't knowQE1.1 In general, how satisfied are you with the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by …?The (NATIONALITY) government (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In  22  EU  Member  States,  a  majority  of  respondents  are 
satisfied  with  the  response  to  the  Russian  invasion  of 
Ukraine  by  the  EU.  This  includes  five  countries  where  at  least 
three  quarters  of  respondents  are  satisfied:  Portugal  (79%), 
Ireland  and  Poland  (both  76%),  and  Denmark  and  Finland  (both 
75%).  

In five Member States, a majority of respondents are dissatisfied 
with the EU response: Greece (57% dissatisfied), Slovakia (55%), 
Slovenia (50%), and Estonia and Cyprus (both 48%). 

In 16 EU Member States, satisfaction with the response to 
the  Russian  invasion  of  Ukraine  by  the  EU  has  increased 
since  June-July  2022.  The  largest  increases  can  be  seen  in 
Lithuania (62%, +12 percentage points), the Netherlands (72%, +6 
pp), Latvia (59%, +6 pp) and Estonia (42%, +6 pp). 

Perceptions have become more negative in nine countries, with the 
largest  decreases  in  satisfaction  seen  in  Slovakia  (39%,  -11 
percentage points), Hungary (52%, -9 pp), Malta (68%, -7 pp) and 
Germany (51%, -7 pp). There has been no change in Luxembourg 
(62%) and Slovenia (45%). 

14 

EU27LTEELVNLHRCYATIESEBEBGCZFRITPTFILUSIDKELPLESRODEMTHUSKJan/Feb 202356624259726445537673634851465779756245753776485851685239Δ Jun/Jul 2022q1p12p6p6p6p4p3p3p2p2p1p1p1p1p1p1p1==q1q1q2q3q3q7q7q9q11Jan/Feb 202338344833253248421925334246403914213050205721463544274455Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1q13q6q7q7q2q3q4q1q4q3q3q1q2q1q1q4p1q1q1q2p1p5p2p6p4p8p8Jan/Feb 20236410834755241031447485563675546Δ Jun/Jul 2022=p1=p1p1q2=p1q1p2p2p2=p1==p3q1p1p2p3p1q2p1p1p3p1p3Total 'Satisfied'Total 'Not satisfied'Don't knowQE1.2 In general, how satisfied are you with the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by …?The European Union (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

The  socio-demographic  data  show 
that  a  majority  of 
respondents  in  most  groups  say  they  are  satisfied  with  the 
response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, both by their national 
government and by the EU. 

▪ 

▪ 

The  highest  levels  of  satisfaction  with  the  national 
government’s response are seen among respondents aged 
55 or over (57%), those who remained in education until 
the  age  of  20  or  older  (60%),  managers  (63%),  retired 
people (59%), white collar workers (57%), those who never 
or  almost  never  have  difficulties  paying  bills  (61%)  and 
those who consider themselves as belonging to the upper 
class (70%) or upper middle class (66%) of society.  

At  the  same  time,  a  majority  of  respondents  in  some 
groups say they are not satisfied with the response of their 
national government: unemployed respondents (51% ‘not 
satisfied’  vs  42%  ‘satisfied’)  and  people  who  have 
difficulties  paying  their  bills  most  of  the  time  (56%  vs 
37%).

▪ 

Socio-demographic variations are similar when looking at 
satisfaction with the EU’s response to the Russian invasion 
of Ukraine, although attitudes are consistent by age group. 
Satisfaction  is  highest  among  those  who  remained  in 
education  until  the  age  of  20  or  older  (61%),  managers 
(63%),  white  collar  workers  (59%),  those  who  never  or 
almost never have difficulties paying bills (60%) and those 
who consider themselves as belonging to the upper class 
(79%)  or  upper  middle  class  (70%)  of  society.  The 
proportions  that  are  not  satisfied  are  highest  among 
unemployed 
(48%),  people  who  have 
difficulties paying their bills most of the time (52%) and 
those  who  consider  themselves  as  belonging  to  the 
working class (45%) or lower middle class (44%) of society. 

respondents 

15 

QE1The European UnionThe (NATIONALITY) governmentEU275655Man5655Woman565515-24555225-39555340-54575555 +565715-495016-19555420+6160Still studying5653Self- employed5755Managers6363Other white collars5957Manual workers5349House persons4949Unemployed4342Retired5759Students5653Most of the time4037From time to time5048Almost never/ Never6061The working class4847The lower middle class4948The middle class6059The upper middle class7066The upper class7970Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsConsider belonging toEducation (End of)In general, how satisfied are you with the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by …?  (% - Total 'Satisfied')GenderAge 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

II.  THE  ACTIONS  TAKEN  IN  RESPONSE 

TO THE INVASION  

16 

 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

This  chapter  examines  the  attitudes  of  Europeans  towards  the 
actions taken by the EU in response to the war in Ukraine. It firstly 
asks  respondents  whether  they  agree  or  disagree  with  various 
actions taken by the EU, and then asks whether they think that the 
EU is defending European values by standing against the Russian 
invasion. 

There  is  strong  and  continuing  support  for  the 
actions  taken  by  the  EU  in  response  to  Russia’s 
invasion of Ukraine 

Respondents were  asked  whether they  agreed or disagreed  with 
six  actions  taken  by  the  EU  in  response  to  Russia’s  invasion  of 
Ukraine12.  

Europeans express strong levels of support for each of the actions, 
although attitudes have become slightly less positive since June-
July  2022.  Respondents  are  most  likely  to  agree  with  providing 
humanitarian  support  to  the  people  affected  by  the  war 
(91%,  -1  percentage  point  since  June-July  2022),  with  61%  (no 
change) saying they “totally agree” with this action, while 7% (+1 
pp)  disagree.  Just  under  nine  in  ten  (88%,  -2  pp)  agree  with 
welcoming in the EU people fleeing the war, including 55% ( 
-1 pp) who “totally agree”, while 9% (+1 pp) disagree.  

Just  over  three  quarters  of  respondents  agree  with  providing 
financial  support  to  Ukraine  (77%,  -4pp),  while  19%  (+4  pp) 
disagree.  A  similar  proportion  agree  with  imposing  economic 
sanctions  on  Russian  government,  companies  and 
individuals  (74%,  -4  pp),  while  21%  (+4  pp)  disagree  with  this 
action.  

Around two thirds (67%, -3 pp) agree with banning state-owned 
media such as Sputnik and Russia Today from broadcasting 
in the EU, while around a quarter (24%, +2 pp) disagree with this 
action.  

The  least  popular  action  included  in  the  survey  is  financing 
purchase and supply of military equipment to the Ukrainian 
government. While more than six in ten respondents agree with 
this (65%, -3 pp), around three in ten disagree (29%, +3 pp). 

12  QE2.  The  EU  has  taken  a  series  of  actions  as  a  response  to  Russia’s 
invasion  of  Ukraine.  To  what  extent  you  agree  or  disagree  with  each  of 
these  actions  taken.  1)  Imposing  economic  sanctions  on  Russian 
government,  companies  and  individuals.  2)  Banning  state-owned  media 
such as Sputnik and Russia Today from broadcasting in the EU. 3) Financing 

purchase and supply of military equipment to the Ukrainian government. 
4)  Providing  humanitarian  support  to  the  people  affected  by  the  war.  5) 
Welcoming in the EU people fleeing the war. 6) Providing financial support 
to Ukraine. 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In  every  EU  Member  State,  at  least  seven  in  ten 
respondents agree with providing humanitarian support to 
the  people  affected  by  the  war.  The  highest  levels  of 
agreement  are  seen  in  the  Netherlands  (99%),  Luxembourg  and 
Lithuania (both 98%), and in Greece and Finland (both 97%). 

Respondents in Romania are the least likely to agree with providing 
humanitarian  support  to  the  people  affected  by  the  war  (71%), 
followed by those in  Bulgaria (81%) and in Austria and Slovakia 
(both 86%). 

More  than  three  quarters  of  respondents  “totally  agree”  with 
providing humanitarian support to the people affected by the war 
in  the  Netherlands  (87%),  Finland  (84%),  Sweden  (81%)  and 
Cyprus (79%), whereas less than half “totally agree” in Romania 
(35%) and Bulgaria (44%).

The proportion that agrees with providing humanitarian support to 
the people affected by the war has been stable in many countries 
since June-July 2022. The largest increases in agreement can be 
found  in  Lithuania  (98%,  +5  percentage  points)  and  the  

Netherlands (99%, +3 pp). The largest falls in agreement can be 
seen in Ireland (90%, -5 pp), Portugal (94%, -4 pp), Romania (71%, 
-4 pp), Germany (92%, -4 pp) and Poland (91%, -4 pp). 

18 

EU27LTNLLUELESATFIBEHRITEEFRCYLVSISEBGDKHUMTCZSKDEPLPTROIEJan/Feb 202391989998979686979191899392959191968194899487869291947190Δ Jun/Jul 2022q1p5p3p2p1p1p1p1===q1q1q1q1q1q1q2q2q2q2q3q3q4q4q4q4q5Jan/Feb 202371123132789444472154951211783257Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1q5q2q3q2p1==q1p1=p1=p2=p1q1p3p1p1p2p3p1p4p4p3p4p4Jan/Feb 20232102111121234152242211311343Δ Jun/Jul 2022==q1p1p1q2q1q1p1q1==p1q1p1=p2q1p1p1==p2==p1=p1Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE2.4 The EU has taken a series of actions as a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. To what extent you agree or disagree with each of these actions taken.Providing humanitarian support to the people affected by the war (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

More than seven in ten respondents in each country agree 
with  welcoming  people 
in  the  EU  fleeing  the  war. 
Respondents  are  most  likely  to  agree  with  this  action  in  the 
Netherlands (98%), in Denmark, Finland and Sweden (all 97%), and 
in  Spain  and  Luxembourg  (both  96%).  The  highest  levels  of 
disagreement are seen in Czechia (26%), Romania (24%), and in 
Austria and Bulgaria (both 19%).

More  than  seven  in  ten  respondents  “totally  agree”  with 
welcoming people in the EU fleeing the war in Sweden and 
the  Netherlands  (both  82%),  as  well  as  in  Finland  and  Denmark 
(both  79%),  Spain  (75%)  and  Cyprus  (74%).  The  proportion  that 
‘totally  agrees’  is  lowest  in  Bulgaria  (32%),  Romania  (33%)  and 
Czechia (38%). 

A geographical pattern can be seen in the findings. Opposition to 
welcoming  people  fleeing  the  war  tends  to  be  strongest  in 
countries in the east of Europe, including those closer to Ukraine, 
while respondents are most likely to agree with this action in other 
parts of the EU. 

The proportion that agrees with welcoming people in the EU fleeing 
the war has been stable in many countries since June-July 2022. 
Only  six  Member  States  have  seen  changes  of  more  than  three 
percentage  points.  The  largest  increases  in  agreement  can  be  

found  in  the  Netherlands  (98%,  +6  percentage  points)  and 
Lithuania (94%, +4 pp). The largest decreases in agreement can 
be seen in Germany (86%, -6 pp), Bulgaria (73%, -5 pp), Ireland 
(89%, -5 pp) and Hungary (86%, -4 pp). 

19 

EU27NLLTELESITDKLUSIFIFRHRCYPLBEEELVMTATSKSECZPTROHUBGIEDEJan/Feb 202388989495968897968997889195918888889379819772947286738986Δ Jun/Jul 2022q2p6p4p2p2p2p1p1p1p1====q1q1q1q1q1q1q1q3q3q3q4q5q5q6Jan/Feb 20239144310239278481087619152263241219711Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1q6q5q3p1q2q1q1q1=q1p1p1p1=p2=p1=q1=p3p2p3p3p4p3p5Jan/Feb 20233121121121511124512412342843Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1=p1p1q3====q1p1q1q1q1p1q1p1=p1p2p1=p1=p1p1p2p1Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE2.5 The EU has taken a series of actions as a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. To what extent you agree or disagree with each of these actions taken.Welcoming into the EU people fleeing the war (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

Once  again,  opposition  tends  to  be  strongest  in  countries  in  the 
East of Europe, while respondents are most likely to agree with this 
action in other parts of the EU. 

More than half of respondents in every EU Member  State 
agree with providing financial support to Ukraine. More than 
nine in ten support this action in Sweden and Finland (both 94%), 
the Netherlands (93%), and in Denmark and Lithuania (both 92%). 

By contrast, more than a third of respondents disagree with this 
action in Slovakia (42%), in Bulgaria and Czechia (both 37%), and 
in Hungary and Romania (both 35%). 

Respondents  are  most  likely  to  say  they  “totally  agree”  with 
providing  financial  support  to  Ukraine  in  Sweden  (75%),  Finland 
(71%),  the  Netherlands  (69%)  and  Denmark  (68%),  while 
respondents are least likely to say they “totally agree” in Bulgaria 
(21%), and in Czechia, Hungary and Romania (all 25%). 

Since  June-July  2022,  the  proportion  that  agrees  with  providing 
financial support to Ukraine has risen in five Member States, while 
levels of agreement have decreased in 22 countries. The largest 
increases  in  agreement  can  be  found  in  Lithuania  (92%,  +6 
percentage points), Latvia (84%, +6 pp) and the Netherlands (93%, 

+5  pp).  The  largest  falls  in  agreement  can  be  seen  in  Hungary 
(61%,  -14  pp),  Romania  (59%,  -11  pp),  Slovakia  (53%,  -11  pp), 
Greece (66%, -9 pp), Luxembourg (76%, -8 pp) and Poland (86%, 
-6 pp). 

20 

EU27LVLTNLHRCYDKMTSIFISEBGCZATDEEEIEESFRITBEPTPLLUELROSKHUJan/Feb 202377849293838192877294945561718072908268767588867666595361Δ Jun/Jul 2022q4p6p6p5p1p1q1q1q1q1q1q3q3q3q4q4q4q4q4q4q5q5q6q8q9q11q11q14Jan/Feb 20231910661516611244337372617196142320237132031354235Δ Jun/Jul 2022p4q7q7q5p1p1=p1q1=q2p2p5p3p4p2p2p6p3p3p4p2p6p7p9p11p8p12Jan/Feb 20234621232242382339449425143654Δ Jun/Jul 2022=p1p1=q2q2p1=p2p1p3p1q2==p2p2q2p1p1p1p3=p1==p3p2Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE2.6 The EU has taken a series of actions as a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. To what extent you agree or disagree with each of these actions taken.Providing financial support to Ukraine (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In every EU Member State, a majority of respondents say 
they  agree  with  imposing  economic  sanctions  on  Russian 
government,  companies  and  individuals.  At  least  nine  in  ten 
respondents  agree  with  this  action  in  Sweden  (95%)  and  in 
Denmark and Poland (both 90%). By contrast, more than a third of 
respondents  disagree  with  this  action  in  Slovakia  (44%),  Cyprus 
(43%), Bulgaria (41%), Hungary (39%) and Greece (38%).  

In ten countries, at least half of respondents “totally agree” with 
imposing economic sanctions on Russian government, companies 
and  individuals,  led  by  Sweden  (76%),  Denmark  (69%),  the 
Netherlands (68%) and Finland (65%). The lowest proportions that 
“totally  agree”  are  found  in  Bulgaria  (19%)  and  in  Greece  and 
Hungary (both 22%).  

Since  June-July  2022,  the  proportion  that  agrees  with  imposing 
economic  sanctions  on  Russian  government,  companies  and 
individuals  has  increased  in  nine  Member  States,  while  levels  of 
agreement have decreased in 18 countries. The largest increases 
in agreement can be found in Luxembourg (75%, +5 percentage 
points), Latvia (74%, +5 pp), Lithuania (84%, +5 pp) and Austria 

(69%,  +5  pp).  The  largest  falls  in  agreement  can  be  seen  in 
Slovakia (49%, -10 pp), Hungary (56%, -9 pp), Germany (74%, -7 
pp), Spain (73%, -5 pp), Greece (55%, -5 pp) and Portugal (89%,  
-5 pp). 

21 

EU27LVLTLUATHRCYSEBGNLCZROSIDKEEITMTPLFIBEIEFRELESPTDEHUSKJan/Feb 202374748475698253954789706761907174789085778665557389745649Δ Jun/Jul 2022q4p5p5p5p5p4p4p2p1p1q2q2q2q3q3q3q3q3q3q4q4q4q5q5q5q7q9q10Jan/Feb 2023211613202616434411026253272022179920102438215223944Δ Jun/Jul 2022p4q8q6=q6q2q1q2q1q1p2p1q1p1p1p3p1p3p1p2p3p4p3p8p2p7p7p6Jan/Feb 20235103552411214873945163411766457Δ Jun/Jul 2022=p3p1q5p1q2q3====p1p3p2p2=p2=p2p2p1=p2q3p3=p2p4Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE2.1 The EU has taken a series of actions as a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. To what extent you agree or disagree with each of these actions taken.Imposing economic sanctions on Russian government, companies and individuals (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In 23 EU Member States, a majority of respondents agree 
with  banning  state-owned  media  such  as  Sputnik  and 
Russia  Today  from  broadcasting  in  the  EU.  Levels  of 
agreement  are  highest  in  Poland  (89%),  Lithuania  (82%), and  in 
Ireland and Portugal (both 80%). 

In  four  countries,  respondents  are  more  likely  to  disagree  than 
agree  with  this  action:  Cyprus  (55%  disagree  vs  40%  agree), 
Greece (47% disagree vs 44% agree), Slovakia (46% disagree vs 
42% agree) and Bulgaria (45% disagree vs 39% agree).  

In  five  countries,  at  least  half  of  respondents  say  they  “totally 
agree”  with  banning  state-owned  media  such  as  Sputnik  and 
Russia Today from broadcasting in the EU: Finland (57%), Lithuania 
(56%),  Sweden  (55%),  Poland  (54%)  and  Denmark  (51%). 
Respondents  in  Bulgaria  (16%)  and  in  Cyprus  and  Greece  (both 
17%) are least likely to say they “totally agree” with this action. 

Agreement with banning state-owned media such as Sputnik and 
Russia  Today  from  broadcasting  in  the  EU  has  increased  since 
June-July 2022 in eight Member States. Agreement has fallen in 
18  countries  and  stayed  the  same  in  Lithuania.  The  largest 
increases  in  agreement  can  be  seen  in  Luxembourg  (65%,  +4 

percentage points) and Cyprus (40%, +4 pp), while agreement has 
fallen the most in Slovakia (42%, -11 pp), Hungary (58%, -9 pp), 
Malta (70%, -8 pp), Portugal (80%, -8 pp), Sweden (79%, -7 pp) 
and Germany (66%, -6 pp). 

22 

EU27CYLULVHRITATBGSILTFRPLDKIEELNLROESFIBECZEEDESEMTPTHUSKJan/Feb 202367406569777066395182588972804468616378695667667970805842Δ Jun/Jul 2022q3p4p4p3p2p2p2p1p1=q1q2q3q3q3q3q3q4q4q5q5q5q6q7q8q8q9q11Jan/Feb 2023245529191823264538142882114473028271026372226132273346Δ Jun/Jul 2022p2q1q2q9q2q1q3q2q6q2p2p1=p3p1p3p2p8q2p3p4p2p5=p4p2p5p3Jan/Feb 202395612578161141437692111012571188813912Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1q3q2p6=q1p1p1p5p2q1p1p3=p2=p1q4p6p2p1p3p1p7p4p6p4p8Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE2.2 The EU has taken a series of actions as a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. To what extent you agree or disagree with each of these actions taken.Banning state-owned media such as Sputnik and Russia Today from broadcasting in the EU (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In 24 EU Member States, a majority of respondents agree 
with  financing  the  purchase  and  supply  of  military 
equipment  to  the  Ukrainian  government.  Respondents  are 
most  likely  to  agree  with  this  action  in  Sweden  (92%),  the 
Netherlands (90%), and in Poland and Denmark (both 89%). 

In  three  countries,  respondents  are  more  likely  to  disagree  than 
agree  with  this  action:  Greece  (59%  disagree  vs  36%  agree), 
Bulgaria  (57%  disagree  vs  33%  agree),  and  Slovakia  (56% 
disagree vs 38% agree). 

Respondents  are  most  likely  to  say  they  “totally  agree”  with 
financing  the  purchase  and  supply  of  military  equipment  to  the 
Ukrainian  government  in  Sweden  (68%),  in  Finland  and  the 
Netherlands  (both  62%)  and  in  Denmark  (60%).  Respondents  in 
Bulgaria (12%), Greece (13%), Slovakia (17%) and Hungary (18%) 
are least likely to say they “totally agree” with this action. 

Since  June-July  2022,  the  proportion  that  agrees  with  financing 
the  purchase  and  supply  of  military  equipment  to  the  Ukrainian 
government has increased in six Member States. It has stayed the 
same in two countries (Austria and Sweden) and has decreased in 
19 countries. The largest increases in agreement can be found in 
the Netherlands (90%, +5 percentage points), Lithuania (88%, +5 

pp), Latvia (77%, +5 pp) and Cyprus (49%, +5 pp). The largest falls 
in  agreement  can  be  seen  in  Slovakia  (38%,  -12  pp),  Germany 
(63%,  -7  pp),  Hungary  (50%,  -7  pp),  Czechia  (50%,  -6  pp)  and 
Romania (55%, -6 pp). 

23 

EU27CYLVLTNLLUMTATSEHRITFIBGDKESFRPLSIEEPTBEIEELCZRODEHUSKJan/Feb 202365497788906476509273568833896560895272826881365055635038Δ Jun/Jul 2022q3p5p5p5p5p2p2==q1q1q1q2q2q2q2q2q2q3q4q5q5q5q6q6q7q7q12Jan/Feb 202329471599312146624397578292994118102913594736314656Δ Jun/Jul 2022p3q2q7q7q5p1q2=q1p1p2p1q1=p6p2p2q2==p4p4p4p6p4p6p5p8Jan/Feb 20236483153423551036112710836539646Δ Jun/Jul 2022=q3p2p2=q3==p1=q1=p3p2q4==p4p3p4p1p1p1=p2p1p2p4Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE2.3 The EU has taken a series of actions as a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. To what extent you agree or disagree with each of these actions taken.Financing the purchase and supply of military equipment to Ukraine (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

The socio-demographic data show high levels of support for EU 
actions in nearly all groups. 

Attitudes are generally similar between men and women. The only 
exception is that men are more likely than women to agree with 
financing  the  purchase  and  supply  of  military  equipment  to  the 
Ukrainian government (67% vs 63%). 

Results are mostly consistent across the different age groups, the 
one exception being agreement with imposing economic sanctions 
on Russian government, companies and individuals. Agreement is 
highest  among  respondents  aged  55  or  over  (76%)  and  lowest 
among those aged 15-24 (70%). 

Levels  of  agreement  tend  to  be  higher  among  respondents  who 
remained in education until the age of 20 or older, compared with 
those who left at the age of 15 or below. The largest difference 
between  these  two  socio-demographic  groups  appears  in  the 
comparative proportion of respondents who agree with financing 
purchase  and  supply  of  military  equipment  to  the  Ukrainian 
government. On this issue, 71% of those who finished education 
at age 20 or older agree, compared with 57% of respondents who 
left education at age 15 or younger. 

Among  the  various  socio-professional  groups,  managers  are  the 
most  likely  to  agree  with  the  actions,  while  unemployed 
respondents are the least likely to agree. For example, more than 
eight in ten managers (86%) agree with providing financial support 
to  Ukraine,  compared  with  less  than  seven  in  ten  unemployed 
respondents (68%). 

People who have difficulties paying their bills most of the time are 
less  likely  to  agree  with  the  various  EU  actions.  The  largest 
difference can be noted in relation to financing the purchase and 
supply of military equipment to the Ukrainian government: 47% of 
those who have difficulties most of the time agree with this action, 
compared  with  70%  of  those  who  never  or  almost  never  have 
difficulties paying bills. 

Respondents who consider themselves as belonging to the upper 
class or upper middle class of society are more likely to agree with 
most of the actions, compared with those who consider themselves 
as belonging to the working class or lower middle class of society. 
For example, almost nine in ten of those in the upper class (86%) 
or  upper  middle  class  (89%)  of  society  agree  with  providing 
financial support to Ukraine, compared with around seven in ten of 
those belonging to the working class (70%) or lower middle class 
(73%) of society. 

Respondents’  overall  image  of  the  EU  has  a  bearing  on  their 
support for EU actions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 
For example, among respondents whose overall image of the EU 
is positive,  76%  agree with banning state-owned media such as 
Sputnik and Russia Today from broadcasting in the EU, compared 
with 48% of those whose image of the EU is negative. 

24 

 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

25 

QE2Providing humanitarian support to the people affected by the warWelcoming into the EU people fleeing the warProviding financial support to UkraineImposing economic sanctions on Russian government, companies and individualsBanning state-owned media such as Sputnik and Russia Today from broadcasting in the EUFinancing the purchase and supply of military equipment to UkraineEU27918877746765Man918877746667Woman91887674666315-2490887770646425-3990887672686540-5492897674676555 +92897776666515-89867270615716-1989867373676320+949382776871Still studying939181726766Self- employed929277766764Managers959486817075Other white collars908979767068Manual workers888470706461House persons888471706458Unemployed908568665953Retired928978766666Students939181726766Most of the time848263635747From time to time888472696560Almost never/ Never949281786870The working class908670706358The lower middle class918673716461The middle class919080756867The upper middle class969589857480The upper class929486877181Rural village928876736667Small/ mid size town908775736562Large town939181766867Positive969489867679Neutral898774716460Negative857953544841Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsConsider belonging toSubjective urbanisationEducation (End of)The EU has taken a series of actions as a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. To what extent you agree or disagree with each of these actions taken.   (% - Total 'Agree')GenderAgeImage of the EU 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

Around eight in ten Europeans (78%, -1 percentage point) 
agree  that  “by  standing  against  the  Russian  invasion  of 
Ukraine, the EU is defending European values”.  

Around four in ten respondents (41%,  no change) “totally agree” 
with this statement, while 37% (-1 pp) “tend to agree”. By contrast, 
16%  (+1  pp)  disagree,  including  10%  (no  change)  who  “tend  to 
disagree” and 6% (+1 pp) who “totally disagree”. The remaining 6% 
(no change) say that they “don’t know”.  

26 

 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In  every  Member  State,  more  than  half  of  respondents 
agree  that  “by  standing  against  the  Russian  invasion  of 
Ukraine, the EU is defending European values”. At least nine 
in  ten  respondents  agree  with  this  statement  in  Sweden  (95%), 
Finland (92%), in Poland and the Netherlands (both 91%) and in 
Denmark  (90%).  The  lowest  levels  of  agreement  can  be  seen  in 
Bulgaria and Slovakia (both 56%). 

Respondents are most likely to “totally agree” that “by standing 
against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU is defending 
European values” in Sweden (77%), Finland (74%) and Denmark 
(66%). The lowest proportions are seen in Bulgaria (25%), Slovakia 
(26%) and Romania (28%). 

In nine Member States, there has been an increase since June-July 
2022  in  the  proportion  that  agrees  that  “by  standing  against 
the  Russian  invasion  of  Ukraine,  the  EU  is  defending 
European values”. Agreement has fallen in 14 countries and has 
remained unchanged in four countries.

The largest increases in agreement can be seen in Latvia (81%, +5 
percentage points) and Czechia (75%, +5 pp), while agreement has 
fallen the most in Hungary (69%, -10 pp), Slovakia (56%, -9 pp), 
Luxembourg (81%, -7 pp) and Malta (80%, -6 pp). 

27 

EU27CZLVHRLTNLFRBGEESEDKCYSIFIITATPLESPTDEIEROBEELMTLUSKHUJan/Feb 202378758187899176567995906664927667918088758665826580815669Δ Jun/Jul 2022q1p5p5p4p4p4p3p2p2p2====q1q2q2q3q3q4q4q4q5q5q6q7q9q10Jan/Feb 202316209106713311146282731927912419728153015113127Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1q4q6q4q6q4q1q2q3q3q2p3q3q1p1=p3p4p1p3p2p4p3p4p4p4p1p10Jan/Feb 2023651035211131014695560886773558134Δ Jun/Jul 2022=q1p1=p2=q2=p1p1p2q3p3p1=p2q1q1p2p1p2=p2p1p2p3p8=Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE3.3 Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.By standing against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU is defending European values (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In  the  socio-demographic  analysis,  there 
is  widespread 
agreement that “by standing against the Russian invasion of 
Ukraine, the EU is defending European  values”. Results are 
consistent  between  men  and  women,  while  there  is  a  slight 
variation  by  age  group:  respondents  aged  55  or  over  are  more 
likely to agree than those aged 15-24 (79% vs 75%). 

Respondents  who  left  education  at  the  age  of  20  or  above  are 
more likely to agree than those who left at the age of 15 or below 
(82% vs 74%). In terms of socio-professional category, agreement 
is highest among managers (86%) and lowest among unemployed 
respondents (70%). 

Agreement is higher among respondents who consider themselves 
as belonging to the upper class (83%) or upper middle class (88%) 
of  society,  compared  with  those  who  consider  themselves  as 
belonging  to  the  working  class  or  lower  middle  class  of  society 
(both  74%).  Respondents  are  less  likely  to  agree  if  they  have 
difficulties paying bills most of the time (67%) than if they never 
or almost never have difficulties (82%). 

Although  the  majority  of  respondents  agree  with  the  statement 
even if they have a negative image of the EU (57%), agreement is 
much higher when respondents’ overall image of the EU is positive 
(89%). 

28 

QE3.3By standing against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU is defending European valuesEU2778Man78Woman7715-247525-397740-547855 +7915-7416-197620+82Still studying78Self- employed78Managers86Other white collars77Manual workers74House persons73Unemployed70Retired80Students78Most of the time67From time to time73Almost never/ Never82The working class74The lower middle class74The middle class79The upper middle class88The upper class83Positive89Neutral75Negative57Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.  (% - Total agree)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsConsider belonging toEducation (End of)GenderAgeImage of the EU 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

III.  CONSEQUENCES  OF  THE  WAR  IN 

UKRAINE  

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

This  chapter  examines  the  consequences  of  the  war  in  Ukraine, 
considering  whether  Europeans  think  there  are  financial  and 
economic consequences of the war, either for them personally or 
for their country. 

The majority of Europeans continue to think that 
the  war  has13  serious  economic  consequences, 
personally and for their country. 

Respondents  were  asked  about  the  financial  and  economic 
consequences of the war in the Ukraine14. Results have remained 
consistent with the survey carried out in June-July 2022. 

More  than  eight  in  ten  Europeans  (86%,  -2  percentage 
points since June-July 2022) agree that the war in Ukraine 
has  serious  economic  consequences  for  their  country,  and 
this includes 42% (+1 pp) who “totally agree” and 44% (-3 pp) who 
“tend to agree”. Around one in ten (11%, +1 pp) disagree. 

Around six in ten respondents (63%, +1 pp) agree that the 
war in Ukraine has serious financial consequences for them 
personally, including 22% (+1 pp) who “totally agree” and 41% 
(no  change)  who  “tend  to  agree”.  Just  over  a  third  (35%,  -1  pp) 
disagree,  including  10%  (no  change)  who  “totally  disagree”  and 
25% (-1 pp) who “tend to disagree”. 

13 In  ST97,  the  item  was  “the  war  in  Ukraine  has  had  serious  economic 
consequences  for  …”.  In  this  new  survey,  it  was  modified  to  “the  war  in 
Ukraine has serious economic consequences for …” in all countries, except 
France, Italy and Latvia.   

14 QE4. Thinking about the consequences of the war in Ukraine, please tell 
to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statements? 1. The 
war in Ukraine has had serious financial consequences for you personally. 
2.  The  war  in  Ukraine  has  had  serious  economic  consequences  for  (OUR 
COUNTRY) 

30 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In  every  EU  Member  State,  more  than  two  thirds  of 
respondents  agree  that  the  war  in  Ukraine  has  serious 
economic consequences for their country. In nine countries, at 
least nine in ten respondents agree, led by Cyprus (97%), Greece 
and  Slovakia  (both  95%),  Portugal  (94%)  and  Lithuania  (92%). 
Respondents are most likely to say they “totally agree” in Cyprus 
(76%), Greece (59%), and in Malta and Slovakia (both 56%).  

Respondents in Romania are least likely to agree that the war in 
Ukraine has had serious economic consequences for their country 
(69%),  followed  by  those  in  Luxembourg  (72%)  and  Slovenia 
(76%). 

In five countries, there has been an increase in agreement since 
June-July 2022 that the war in Ukraine has had serious economic 
consequences  for  their  country.  Agreement  has  fallen  in  19 
countries and has remained unchanged in three countries. 

By  far  the  largest  increase  in  agreement  can  be  seen  in 
Luxembourg  (72%,  +13  percentage  points),  followed  by  Sweden 
(89%, +4 pp) and Slovakia (95%, +4 pp). Agreement has decreased 
the most in Czechia (86%, -10 pp), Hungary (84%, -9 pp), Romania 
(69%, -6 pp), Bulgaria (84%, -5 pp) and Croatia (82%, -5 pp). 

31 

EU27LUSKSEBEMTLTNLATDEITLVFIDKEEFRCYPTPLSIIEELESBGHRROHUCZJan/Feb 202386729589919192838185899086818282979490768795898482698486Δ Jun/Jul 2022q2p13p4p4p2p2===q1q1q1q1q2q2q2q2q2q3q3q4q4q4q5q5q6q9q10Jan/Feb 20231122310887161513107101713123482110481217271413Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1q9q6q5q2q2==q2p1p1p1=p1p1=p2p1p2p2p3p3p3p4p6p6p7p10Jan/Feb 20233621111142134256022331341421Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1q4p2p1====p2===p1p1p1p2=p1p1p1p1p1p1p1q1=p2=QE4.2 Thinking about the consequences of the war in Ukraine, please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statements?The war in Ukraine has serious economic consequences for (OUR COUNTRY) (%)Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't know 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In 25 EU Member States, a majority of respondents agree 
that  the  war  in  Ukraine  has  had  serious  financial 
consequences  for  them  personally.  Levels  of  agreement  are 
highest in Cyprus (90%), Greece (87%), Portugal (84%) and Malta 
(80%).  Respondents  are  most  likely  to  “totally  agree”  in  Cyprus 
(58%) and Greece (44%). 

A majority disagree with the statement in the Netherlands (61%) 
and Finland (50%). The proportion that disagrees is also relatively 
high in Denmark (49%), Germany (48%) and Slovenia (46%). 

Since June-July 2022, agreement that the war in Ukraine has had 
serious  economic  consequences  for  respondents  personally  has 
increased  in  14  Member  States.  Agreement  has  fallen  in  11 
countries  and  has  remained  unchanged  in  two  countries  (Latvia 
and Romania). 

The largest increases in agreement can be seen in Sweden (58%, 
+11  percentage  points),  Luxembourg  (60%,  +8  pp)  and  Belgium 
(77%, +7 pp). The largest decreases in agreement can be found in 
Czechia (58%, -14 pp), Croatia (66%, -9 pp), Hungary (76%, -8 pp), 
Bulgaria (61%, -7 pp) and Cyprus (90%, -6 pp). 

32 

EU27SELUBENLEEFIDEESDKMTSKFRITATLVROPLPTSIIEELLTCYBGHUHRCZJan/Feb 202363586077385845507350807854686064667884526487609061766658Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1p11p8p7p5p4p4p3p3p2p2p2p1p1p1==q1q1q2q4q5q5q6q7q8q9q14Jan/Feb 202335413922613750482649192043303833302012463213391034223341Δ Jun/Jul 2022q1q12q8q8q5q5q7q2q3q2q2q3q1=p1q1=p2=p2p4p5p5p6p8p7p10p15Jan/Feb 20232111155211123223424240105211Δ Jun/Jul 2022=p1=p1=p1p3q1===p1=q1q2p1=q1p1=====q1p1q1q1QE4.1 Thinking about the consequences of the war in Ukraine, please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statements?The war in Ukraine has serious financial consequences for you personally (%)Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't know 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

The  socio-demographic  data  show  some  variations  in  the 
proportion of respondents that agree that the war in Ukraine has 
had serious financial consequences for them personally.  

The highest levels of agreement are seen among those aged 25-
39 (64%) and aged 40-54 (65%), those who left education by the 
age of 15 (68%) or at the age of 16-19 (66%), manual workers 
(69%),  unemployed  respondents  (75%),  house  persons  (69%), 
people  who  have  difficulties  paying  their  bills  most  of  the  time 
(80%)  and  those  who  consider  themselves  as  belonging  to  the 
working class of society (72%). 

By contrast, those who are less  likely to agree that the war has 
had  serious  financial  consequences  for  them  personally  include 
15-24 year olds (55%), those who remained in education until the 
age of 20 or older (58%), managers (54%), students (52%), those 
who never or almost never have difficulties paying bills (56%) and 
those  who  consider  themselves  as  belonging  to  the  upper  class 
(43%) or upper middle class (44%) of society.  

In terms of whether the war in Ukraine has had serious economic 
consequences  for  their  country,  the  results  are  very  consistent 
across the various groups. In every group, more than eight in ten 
respondents agree with this statement. 

33 

QE4.1-2The war in Ukraine has serious economic consequences for (OUR COUNTRY)The war in Ukraine has serious financial consequences for you personallyEU278663Man8562Woman876315-24835525-39866440-54866555 +876215-886816-19866620+8658Still studying8352Self- employed8765Managers8554Other white collars8764Manual workers8669House persons8569Unemployed8875Retired8660Students8352Most of the time8980From time to time8773Almost never/ Never8556The working class8872The lower middle class8664The middle class8662The upper middle class8544The upper class8343Thinking about the consequences of the war in Ukraine, please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statements?   (% - Total 'Agree')Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsConsider belonging toEducation (End of)GenderAge 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

IV.  EUROPEAN 
THREAT  

SECURITY 

UNDER 

34 

 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

This chapter considers whether the invasion of Ukraine is a threat 
to the security of the EU and to the security of individual Member 
States.

There is widespread agreement that the invasion 
of Ukraine is a threat to the security of the EU and 
to Member States 

Around eight in ten Europeans (81%, -2 percentage points since 
June-July  2022)  agree  that  the  invasion  of  Ukraine  is  a 
threat  to  the  security  of  the  EU, including 46% (+1 pp)  who 
“totally agree” and 35% (-3 pp) who “tend to agree”15. Around one 
in seven respondents (15%, +2 pp) disagree. 

Around three quarters of respondents (76%, no change since 
June-July  2022)  agree  that  the  invasion  of  Ukraine  is  a 
threat to the security of their country. This includes 40% (+2 
pp)  who  “totally  agree”  and  36%  (-2  pp)  who  “tend  to  agree”.  A 
fifth of respondents (no change) disagree with this statement.  

On  both  statements,  levels  of  agreement  have  remained  stable 
since June-July 2022. 

15 QE3. Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the 
following statements. 1 The invasion of Ukraine is a threat to the security 
of  the  EU.  2  The  invasion  of  Ukraine  is  a  threat  to  the  security  of  (OUR 
COUNTRY) 

35 

 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

There is widespread agreement across EU Member  States 
that “the invasion of Ukraine is a threat to the security of 
the EU”. Respondents are most likely to agree in Sweden (95%), 
Malta  (92%),  Finland  (91%)  and  the  Netherlands  (90%),  while 
levels of agreement are lowest in Bulgaria (63%), Romania (69%), 
and in Austria, Greece and Slovakia (all 70%). 

Respondents in Sweden (80%) and in Denmark and Finland (both 
68%) are most likely to say they “totally agree” that “the invasion 
of Ukraine is a threat to the security of the EU”. 

In nine countries, there has been an increase in agreement since 
June-July  2022  that  “the  invasion  of  Ukraine  is  a  threat  to  the 
security  of  the  EU”.  Agreement  has  fallen  in  17  countries  and 
stayed the same in Malta. 

The  largest  increases  in  agreement  can  be  found  in  the 
Netherlands (90%, +7 percentage points) and Latvia (81%, +4 pp). 
The largest decreases can be seen in  Hungary (76%, -9 pp) and 
Cyprus (72%, -6 pp). 

36 

EU27NLLVDKLTFRITLUFISEMTBEBGCZEEHRESPLROSIIEELDEATPTSKCYHUJan/Feb 202381908189897880859195928363777684868969778770807088707276Δ Jun/Jul 2022q2p7p4p3p3p2p2p2p1p1=q1q1q1q1q1q2q2q2q2q3q4q5q5q5q5q6q9Jan/Feb 2023159119713161054615281916131010261992816254252521Δ Jun/Jul 2022p2q6q6q4q5q2q2q5q2q2===p1=q1p2p1p2=p3p4p5p3p2p2p6p8Jan/Feb 20234182494541229483415442458533Δ Jun/Jul 2022=q1p2p1p2==p3p1p1=p1p1=p1p2=p1=p2===p2p3p3=p1Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE3.1 Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a threat to the security of the EU (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In every EU Member State, a majority of respondents agree 
that the invasion of Ukraine is a threat to the security of 
their  country.  Respondents  are  most  likely  to  agree  in  Poland 
(90%),  Lithuania  and  Sweden  (both  89%),  and  in  Finland  and 
Portugal (both 85%).  

The proportions that “totally agree” are highest in Lithuania (65%), 
Latvia and Sweden (both 57%) and Poland (56%). 

Levels of agreement are lowest in Cyprus (51%), Bulgaria (60%), 
Austria (61%) and Greece (62%). 

In  11  Member  States,  there  has  been  an  increase  in  agreement 
since June-July 2022 that “the invasion of Ukraine is a threat to 
the security of our country”. Agreement has fallen in 14 countries, 
and stayed the same in two (Spain and Malta). 

The largest increases in agreement can be found in Luxembourg 
(72%,  +15  percentage  points),  the  Netherlands  (75%,  +12  pp), 
Denmark  (81%,  +11  pp)  and  Belgium  (74%,  +7  pp).  The  largest 
decreases can be seen in Hungary (72%, -9 pp), Cyprus (51%, -9 
pp) and Greece (62%, -6 pp). 

37 

EU27LUNLDKBELVFIITLTSEFRSIESMTEEHRROCZPLBGDEATPTIESKELCYHUJan/Feb 202376727581748185798989676980807681717490607761857271625172Δ Jun/Jul 2022=p15p12p11p7p5p4p3p3p3p2p2==q1q1q1q2q2q4q4q4q4q5q5q6q9q9Jan/Feb 2023202324182313121881023281717161823231033193572124374725Δ Jun/Jul 2022=q15q11q10q9q5q4q3q5q4q4q2p3q1=p3=p2p3p4p4p4p2p3p2p6p11p9Jan/Feb 202345113633311033381630744875123Δ Jun/Jul 2022==q1q1p2===p2p1p2=q3p1p1q2p1=q1===p2p2p3=q2=Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE3.2 Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a threat to the security of (OUR COUNTRY) (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In the socio-demographic analysis, attitudes are generally 
consistent  across  the  various  groups.  At  least  two  thirds  of 
respondents in every group agree that the invasion of Ukraine 
is  a  threat  to  the  security  of  the  EU,  and  to  the  security  of 
their country. 

There are slight variations by age. Older respondents aged 55 
or over are more likely to agree that the invasion of Ukraine 
is a threat to the security of the EU (83% vs 77% of 15-24 
year olds) and their country (79% vs 69%). 

There are also variations observed in terms of occupational 
category.  Managers  and  retired  respondents  are  the  most 
likely to agree that the invasion of Ukraine is a threat to the 
security  of  the  EU  (86%  and  85%  respectively),  and  their 

country  (79%  and  80%  respectively).  The  lowest  levels  of 
agreement can be seen among manual workers and students, 
both in relation to the security of the EU (both 76%), and their 
country (72% and 68% respectively). 

Respondents who rarely or never have difficulties paying bills 
are  more  likely  to  agree  that  the  invasion  of  Ukraine  is  a 
threat to the security of the EU (83%), compared with those 
who have  problems  most  of  the  time  (77%).  Agreement  on 
this  issue  is  also  greater  among  respondents  who  consider 
themselves as belonging to the upper class (87%) or upper 
middle class (84%) of society. There are no clear differences 
for  these  groups  in  relation  to  the  threat  to  the  security  of 
their own country. 

38 

QE3.1-2Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a threat to the security of the EURussia’s invasion of Ukraine is a threat to the security of (OUR COUNTRY)EU278176Man8075Woman827715-24776925-39797540-54817755 +837915-828016-19797620+8477Still studying7668Self- employed8177Managers8679Other white collars8178Manual workers7672House persons8279Unemployed7874Retired8580Students7668Most of the time7773From time to time7874Almost never/ Never8377The working class7976The lower middle class8074The middle class8278The upper middle class8475The upper class8775Consider belonging toSocio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsPlease tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.   (% - Total agree)GenderAgeEducation (End of) 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

V.  FUTURE  EU  ACTIONS  IN  THE  WAKE 

OF THE WAR 

39 

 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

This chapter looks at the implications for EU policy and action in 
the future as a result of the war in Ukraine. The chapter starts by 
examining attitudes to defence co-operation in the EU, and then 
looks  at  attitudes  to  energy  security  and  renewable  energy.  The 
chapter  finishes  by  examining  public  attitudes  towards  the  EU’s 
recovery  plan,  ‘NextGenerationEU’  in  responding  to  current 
economic challenges. 

1. 

Defence co-operation in the 
EU  

There  is  strong  support  for  defence  co-operation 
in the EU and for increased spending on defence 

Respondents were  asked  whether they  agreed or disagreed  with 
four  statements  regarding  defence  co-operation  in  the  EU16.  For 
each  statement,  results  have  remained  stable  since  June-July 
2022. 

Eight  in  ten  (no  change)  agree  that  “Member  States’ 
purchase  of  military  equipment  should  be  better 
coordinated”,  including  40%  (+1  pp)  who  “totally  agree”,  while 
12% (no change) disagree. 

Around  eight  in  ten  respondents  (82%,  -2 percentage  points 
since  June-July  2022)  agree  that  “co-operation  in  defence 
matters at EU level should be increased”, with 42% (-1 pp) 
saying  they  “totally  agree”).  Just  over  one  in  ten  (12%,  +2  pp) 
disagree with this statement.  

Around seven in ten Europeans (69%, -2 pp) agree that “the 
EU  needs  to  reinforce  its  capacity  to  produce  military 
(no  change)  “totally  agree”. 
equipment”,  of  which  32% 
Meanwhile,  around  one  in  five  (22%,  +1  pp)  disagree  with  this 
statement.  A  similar  proportion  (68%,  -2  pp)  agree  that 
“more  money  should  be  spent  on  defence  in  the  EU”, 
including 32% (no change) who “totally agree”, while around one 
in four (24%, +1 pp) disagree with this statement. 

16 QE3 Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of 
the following statements: 4 “Co-operation in defence matters at EU level 
should be increased”, 5 “More money should be spent on defence in the 

EU”, 6 “Member States’ purchase of military equipment should be better 
coordinated”, 7 “The EU needs to reinforce its capacity to produce military 
equipment”. 

40 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In every EU Member State, a clear majority of respondents 
agree  that  “co-operation  in  defence  matters  at  EU  level 
should  be  increased”. The highest levels of agreement  can be 
seen  in  Lithuania  and  Poland  (both  92%),  followed  by  those  in 
Malta  and  the  Netherlands  (both  91%).  Respondents  are  least 
likely to agree in Slovakia (65%), Slovenia (67%), Romania (69%) 
and Bulgaria (71%). 

Respondents are most likely to “totally agree” that “co-operation 
in  defence  matters  at  EU  level  should  be  increased”  in 
Lithuania  (59%),  and  in  the  Netherlands  and  Malta  (both  58%), 
while the proportions are lowest in Slovakia (25%), Bulgaria (30%) 
and Italy (31%). 

Since June-July 2022, there has been an increase in agreement in 
seven Member States that  “co-operation in defence matters 
at EU level should be increased”. Agreement has decreased in 
16 countries and stayed the same in four countries. 

The only increase of more than 3 percentage points can be seen in 
Latvia (87%, +5 pp), while agreement has decreased the most in 
Slovakia (65%, -15 pp), Portugal (82%, -8 pp), Ireland (82%, -7 pp) 
and Slovenia (67%, -6 pp). 

41 

EU27LVDKLTNLFRITCYELHRATFIBGESMTROCZDELUPLEESEBEHUSIIEPTSKJan/Feb 202382878092918079868286758671829169808485927685848567828265Δ Jun/Jul 2022q2p5p3p2p2p1p1p1====q1q2q2q2q3q3q3q3q4q4q5q5q6q7q8q15Jan/Feb 20231251647915101411167171362513117712121213269823Δ Jun/Jul 2022p2q6q5q4q3q1=p1q1=q2q2p3p4p1p2p1p3=p2p1p1p3p5p3p4p6p6Jan/Feb 2023684421164439712536758112342791012Δ Jun/Jul 2022=p1p2p2p1=q1q2p1=p2p2q2q2p1=p2=p3p1p3p3p2=p3p3p2p9Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE3.4 Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.Co-operation in defence matters at EU level should be increased (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

There  is  some  variation  across  Member  States  in  the 
proportions that agree that “more money should be spent 
on defence in the EU”. Respondents are most likely to agree with 
the statement in Poland (89%), Lithuania (83%), Hungary (81%) 
and Malta (79%). 

Respondents are most likely to “totally agree” that “more money 
should  be  spent  on  defence  in  the  EU”  in  Poland  (54%), 
Lithuania  (47%),  Cyprus  (44%)  and  Malta  (42%),  while  the 
proportions are lowest in Belgium and Slovakia (both 20%), and in 
Bulgaria and Czechia (both 21%). 

By contrast, more than a third of respondents disagree that “more 
money  should  be  spent  on  defence  in  the  EU”  in  Slovenia 
(47%), Slovakia (38%), and in Greece and Austria (both 36%). 

Denmark (70%, +8 percentage points) and Latvia (71%, +4 pp) are 
the only two countries where there has been an increase of more 
than 1 percentage point since June-July 2022, in agreement that 
“more money should be spent on defence in the EU”. Overall, there 
has been an increase in five Member States, while agreement has 

declined in 19 countries and stayed the same in three. The largest 
decreases  in  agreement  can  be  found  in  Czechia  (59%,  -11  pp), 
Ireland (71%, -11 pp), Slovakia (50%, -10 pp), Romania (60%, -9 
pp), Austria (55%, -8 pp) and Sweden (65%, -8 pp). 

42 

EU27DKLVESCYLTDEITFIFRLUHRBEEEELHUMTNLBGPLPTSIATSEROSKCZIEJan/Feb 202368707164758368676964677465635981797453897348556560505971Δ Jun/Jul 2022q2p8p4p1p1p1===q1q1q2q5q5q5q5q5q5q6q6q6q7q8q8q9q10q11q11Jan/Feb 202324241729201225261921212230253617182132101547362831383318Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1q11q7p3p2q4q1=q6p1p3p3p2p3p5p6p5p2p6p5p4p7p7p1p7p3p9p8Jan/Feb 20238612755771215124512523515112597912811Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1p3p3q4q3p3p1=p6=q2q1p3p2=q1=p3=p1p2=p1p7p2p7p2p3Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE3.5 Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.More money should be spent on defence in the EU (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

More than six in ten respondents in every EU Member State 
agree that “Member States’ purchase of military equipment 
should be better coordinated”. Respondents are most likely to 
agree with this statement in Poland (92%), Lithuania (91%), Malta 
(87%), and in Cyprus and the Netherlands (both 85%). Levels of 
agreement are lowest in Romania (64%), Slovakia (66%), Austria 
(70%) and Bulgaria (71%). 

Respondents are most likely to say they  “totally agree” with this 
statement  in  Lithuania  and  Cyprus  (both  56%),  Denmark  (54%), 
the  Netherlands  (53%)  and  Malta  (52%),  while  respondents  in 
Romania (28%), Bulgaria (29%) and Italy (30%) are least likely to 
say they “totally agree”. 

Since June-July 2022, there has been an increase in agreement in 
eight  Member  States  that  “Member  States’  purchase  of 
military  equipment  should  be  better  coordinated”. 
Agreement has decreased in 17 countries and stayed the same in 
two countries (Germany and the Netherlands). 

The largest increases in agreement can be seen in Spain (79%, +6 
percentage  points),  Cyprus  (85%,  +5  pp)  and  Bulgaria  (71%,  +4 
pp). Agreement has decreased the most in Slovakia (66%, -14 pp), 
Portugal (78%, -9 pp) and Malta (87%, -5 pp). 

43 

EU27ESCYBGITLTLVLUFRDENLDKEEHRATFIPLSICZELROBEIEHUSEMTPTSKJan/Feb 202380798571769180807783858275827073927278796482798276877866Δ Jun/Jul 2022=p6p5p4p3p3p2p2p1==q1q1q1q1q1q2q2q3q3q3q4q4q4q4q5q9q14Jan/Feb 2023121110171739109127991319107211215281310151681022Δ Jun/Jul 2022=q3q4q2q2q5q4==p2q3q2q1p1q1q8p2q1=p3p2p1p3p5q3p3p8p5Jan/Feb 20238105127611101458916511171710685113851212Δ Jun/Jul 2022=q3q1q2q1p2p2q2q1q2p3p3p2=p2p9=p3p3=p1p3p1q1p7p2p1p9Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE3.6 Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.Member States’ purchase of military equipment should be better coordinated (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In  every  country  except  Slovakia,  more  than  half  of 
respondents  agree  that  “the  EU  needs  to  reinforce  its 
capacity  to  produce  military  equipment”.  Agreement  is 
highest  in  Poland  (90%),  Lithuania  (88%),  Latvia  (79%),  and  in 
Malta and Croatia (both 78%). 

Respondents are most likely to “totally agree” that “the EU needs 
to reinforce its capacity to produce military equipment” in 
Lithuania  (55%),  Poland  (49%),  Cyprus  (47%)  and  Latvia  (46%), 
while the proportions are lowest in Slovakia (18%), Bulgaria (22%), 
Czechia (23%) and Belgium (24%). 

Respondents are most likely to disagree that “the EU needs to 
reinforce  its  capacity  to  produce  military  equipment”  in 
Slovenia (39%), Slovakia (37%), Austria (31%), and in Czechia and 
Romania (both 30%). 

Since June-July 2022, there has been an increase in agreement in 
six Member States that “the EU needs to reinforce its capacity to 
produce military equipment”, while agreement has decreased in 21 
countries. 

The only increase of more than 3 percentage points can be seen in 
Latvia (79%, +4 pp), while the largest decreases in agreement can 
be  found  in  Slovakia  (48%,  -12  pp),  Portugal  (75%,  -10  pp), 
Czechia (58%, -8 pp), Ireland (73%, -7 pp) and Sweden (65%, -7 
pp). 

44 

EU27LVDKLTNLITCYDEFRLUELESHRSIBGFIHUPLBEEEATMTROIESECZPTSKJan/Feb 202369797188776776696868676878545871759070665778627365587548Δ Jun/Jul 2022q2p4p3p3p2p1p1q1q1q1q2q2q2q2q3q3q4q4q5q5q5q6q6q7q7q8q10q12Jan/Feb 2023221221618261823172128241839261320825183118301426301237Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1q3q6q6q3q1===p4p2p5p3=p2q5p4p3p2p2p1p5p5p4q1p4p8p2Jan/Feb 202399865768151158471616525161248139121315Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1q1p3p3p1=q1p1p1q3=q3q1p2p1p8=p1p3p3p4p1p1p3p8p4p2p10Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE3.7 Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.The EU needs to reinforce its capacity to produce military equipment (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In the socio-demographic data, men are more likely than women 
to  agree  with  statements  about  defence  co-operation  in  the  EU. 
For example, 73% of men agree that “the EU needs to reinforce 
its capacity to produce military equipment”, compared with 
67% of women.  

Results  are  generally  consistent  across  age  groups,  although 
younger  respondents  (aged  15-24)  are  less  likely  to  agree  that 
“more money should be spent on defence in the EU” (63% 
compared with 70% of 40-54 year olds and 69% of those aged 
55 or over) or that “the EU needs to reinforce its capacity to 
produce military equipment” (64% compared with 71% of both 
40-54 year olds and those aged 55 or over). 

Levels  of  agreement  tend  to  be  higher  among  respondents  who 
remained in education until the age of 20 or older, compared with 
those who left at the age of 15 or below. The largest difference 
between these two socio-demographic groups lies in the proportion 
who  agree  that  “Member  States’  purchase  of  military 
equipment  should  be  better  coordinated”.  While  82%  of 
respondents  who  stayed  in  education  until  the  age  20  or  later 
agree with the statement, the number is lower among those who 
stopped education at age 15 or younger (74%). 

People who have difficulties paying their bills most of the time are 
less likely to agree with the various statements. For example, 73% 
of those who have difficulties most of the time agree that  “co-
operation  in  defence  matters  at  EU  level  should  be 
increased”,  compared  with  85%  of  those  who  never  or  almost 
never have difficulties paying bills. 

Agreement on these issues also varies by social class. For example, 
the proportion that agree that “more money should be spent on 
defence in the EU” is higher among respondents who consider 
themselves as belonging to the upper class (77%) or upper middle 
class  (74%)  of  society,  compared  with  those  who  consider 
themselves  as  belonging  to  the  working  class  (63%)  or  lower 
middle class (66%). 

Respondents’ answers are influenced by their overall image of the 
EU.  For  example,  the  proportion  that  agree  that  “more  money 
should  be  spent  on  defence  in  the  EU”  is  78%  among 
respondents whose overall image of the EU is positive, compared 
with 52% of those whose image of the EU is negative. 

45 

QE3Co-operation in defence matters at EU level should be increasedMember States’ purchase of military equipment should be better coordinated The EU needs to reinforce its capacity to produce military equipment More money should be spent on defence in the EUEU2782806968Man83827371Woman8177676515-248179646325-398279696640-548482717055 +8279716915-7874686416-198281716920+85827170Still studying82786263Self- employed83796969Managers88847472Other white collars83817270Manual workers80787067House persons78766664Unemployed76756461Retired82807170Students82786263Most of the time73726359From time to time78776865Almost never/ Never85827271The working class78776863The lower middle class81796766The middle class83807170The upper middle class90857574The upper class90898077Positive91877978Neutral80766664Negative67685652Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsConsider belonging toEducation (End of)Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.  (% - Total 'Agree')GenderAgeImage of the EU 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

2. 

Energy security in the EU  

Europeans  are  positive  towards  the  benefits  of 
renewable  energy  and  EU-wide  co-ordination  in 
energy security 

Respondents were  asked  whether they  agreed or disagreed  with 
seven statements about energy security in the EU17.  

Respondents  are  positive  towards  the  benefits  of  renewable 
energy.  As  many  as  86%  (-1  percentage  point  since  June-July 
2022)  agree  that  “the  EU  should  invest  massively  in 
renewable  energies,  such  as  wind  and  solar  power”,  with 
55%  (no  change)  saying  they  “totally  agree”  and  10%  (+1  pp) 
disagreeing.  

When  asked  about  Russian  sources  of  energy  specifically,  more 
than  eight  in ten  (84%,  -2  pp)  agree  that  “the  EU  should 
reduce its dependency on Russian sources of energy as soon 
as possible”, including 53% (-1 pp) who “totally agree”, while just 
over one in ten (12%, + 2 pp) disagree with the statement.  

More  than  eight  in  ten  (85%,  no  change)  agree  that 
“increasing  energy  efficiency  of  buildings,  transport,  and 
goods  will  make  us  less  dependent  on  energy  producers 
outside the EU”, including 46% (+1 pp) who “totally agree”, while 
10% (+1 pp) disagree. A similar proportion (84%, no change) 

agree that “reducing imports of oil and gas and investing 
in renewable energy is important for our overall security”, 
with  46%  (-1  pp)  who  “totally  agree”,  while  11%  (no  change) 
disagree.  

More than eight in ten Europeans (82%, -1 pp) agree that 
“EU  Member  States  should  jointly  buy  energy  from  other 
countries to get a better price”, including 45% (no change) who 
“totally  agree”,  while  12%  (+1  pp)  disagree.  Eight  in  ten 
respondents  (no  change)  agree  that  “in  the  long  run, 
renewable energy can limit the price we pay for our energy 
consumption”,  with  more  than  four  in  ten  (43%,  +2  pp) saying 
they “totally agree”, while 13% (no change) disagree. 

Around eight in ten respondents (81%, +3 pp) agree that “I 
have  recently  taken  action  to  reduce  my  own  energy 
consumption, or I plan to do so in the near future”, and this 
includes 42% (+6 pp) who “totally agree”, while around one in six 
(16%, -3 pp) disagree. This is the one statement where there has 
been an increase in agreement since June-July 2022. For the other 
statements, results have remained very consistent with those seen 
in June-July 2022. 

17 QE3. Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of 
the  following  statements:  8  The  EU  should  reduce  its  dependency  on 
Russian  sources  of  energy  as  soon  as  possible,  9  The  EU  should  invest 
massively in renewable energies, such as wind and solar power, 10 In the 
long  run,  renewable  energy  can  limit  the  price  we  pay  for  our  energy 
consumption, 11 Increasing energy efficiency of buildings, transport, and 
goods will make us less dependent on energy producers outside the EU, 12 

Reducing  imports  of  oil  and  gas  and  investing  in  renewable  energy  is 
important for our overall security, 13 EU Member States should jointly buy 
energy from other countries to get a better price,  14 I have recently taken 
action to reduce my own energy consumption or I plan to do so in the near 
future 

46 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

47 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

There is widespread agreement among Europeans that the 
EU “should invest massively in renewable energies, such as 
wind and solar power”. There are 13 countries where at least 
nine in ten respondents agree, led by Malta and Cyprus (both 96%) 
and Denmark and Luxembourg (both 94%).  

The  proportion  that  “totally  agree”  is  highest  in  Denmark  (79%), 
Cyprus (78%), and in Malta and Slovenia (both 73%). 

Respondents  are  least  likely  to  agree  with  the  statement  in 
Romania (69%), Estonia (74%), Czechia (75%), Bulgaria (76%) and 
Slovakia (77%). 

Since June-July 2022, there has been an increase in agreement in 
five  Member  States  that  the  EU  “should  invest  massively  in 
renewable  energies,  such  as  wind  and  solar  power”. 
Agreement has decreased in 16 countries and stayed the same in 
six countries. Overall, the picture has generally been stable, with a 
difference of more than three percentage points seen in only seven 
countries. 

The  largest  increases  in  agreement  can  be  seen  in  Luxembourg 
(94%, +5 percentage points) and Sweden (91%, +4 pp). Agreement 
has decreased the most in Estonia (74%, -8 pp) and Slovakia (77%, 
-7 pp). 

48 

EU27LUSELTNLFIBEESFRITCYSIBGDKELHRMTATPLLVPTROHUCZDEIESKEEJan/Feb 202386949192938889938089969176948990968191809269897587907774Δ Jun/Jul 2022q1p5p4p3p1p1======q1q1q1q1q1q1q1q2q2q2q3q4q4q4q7q8Jan/Feb 2023103847794118371559821571212410211061516Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1q4q5q5=q3q1p2=q1p1=p1p1p1=p1====p2p3p4p4p3p1p6Jan/Feb 202343140523931291222428771434810Δ Jun/Jul 2022=q1p1p2q1p2p1q2=p1q1====p1=p1p1p2p2====p1p6p2Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE3.9 Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.The EU should invest massively in renewable energies, such as wind and solar power (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In every EU Member State, more than half of respondents 
agree that “the EU should reduce its dependency on Russian 
sources of energy as soon as possible”. Respondents are most 
likely to agree in Sweden and Denmark (both 96%), as well as the 
Netherlands (94%), and Finland, Croatia and Poland (all 92%). The 
proportion of respondents that agree ‘totally’ is highest in Sweden 
(88%), Denmark (83%), Finland (76%) and the Netherlands (71%). 

Respondents in Slovakia are most likely to disagree that “the EU 
should reduce its dependency on Russian sources of energy 
as soon as possible” (37%), followed by those in Bulgaria and 
Romania (both 23%) and Cyprus (20%). 

In  11  Member  States,  respondents  are  now  more  likely  than  in 
June-July  2022  to  agree  that  “the  EU  should  reduce  its 
dependency  on  Russian  sources  of  energy  as  soon  as 
possible”. Agreement has decreased in 13 countries and stayed 
the same in three countries.  

The only increase in agreement of more than 2 percentage points 
can be seen in Latvia (79%, +8 pp). Agreement has decreased the 
most  in  Slovakia  (55%,  -7  pp),  Germany  (82%,  -5  pp)  and 
Luxembourg (85%, -5 pp). 

49 

EU27LVBGEEESLTCZELHRHUATRODKITNLBEFISEIEFRCYPLMTPTSIDELUSKJan/Feb 202384796579918977839284837196869488929691797492889077828555Δ Jun/Jul 2022q2p8p2p2p2p2p1p1p1p1p1p1===q1q1q1q2q2q2q2q3q3q3q5q5q7Jan/Feb 2023121223106618136131523311510435102077218151037Δ Jun/Jul 2022p2q10q1q5p1q5q3q1q1q1q2===q1p1==p1p1p5p2p2=p1p5p3p1Jan/Feb 20234912113554232613124141161585358Δ Jun/Jul 2022=p2q1p3q3p3p2===p1q1==p1=p1p1p1p1q3=p1p3p2=p2p6Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE3.8 Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.The EU should reduce its dependency on Russian sources of energy as soon as possible (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

There  is  widespread  agreement  across  the  EU  that 
“increasing  energy  efficiency  of  buildings,  transport,  and 
goods  will  make  us  less  dependent  on  energy  producers 
outside the EU”. There are nine countries where at least nine in 
ten respondents agree, led by Spain (93%), the Netherlands (92%), 
and Denmark, Sweden and Poland (all 91%).  

The  proportion  that  “totally  agree”  is  highest  in  Denmark  (64%), 
the  Netherlands  (63%),  Spain  (62%),  Cyprus  (61%)  and  Sweden 
(60%). 

Respondents  are  least  likely  to  agree  with  the  statement  in 
Romania  (69%),  Estonia  and  Czechia  (both  74%)  and  Slovakia 
(75%). 

Since June-July 2022, there has been an increase in agreement in 
nine  Member  States  that  “increasing  energy  efficiency  of 
buildings, transport, and goods will make us less dependent 
on  energy  producers  outside  the  EU”.  Agreement  has 
decreased in 14 countries and stayed the same in four. 

The  largest  increases  in  agreement  can  be  seen  in  Luxembourg 
(90%, +4 percentage points), Spain (93%, +4 pp) and Greece (90%, 
+4 pp). Agreement has decreased the most in Germany (80%, -6 
pp), Estonia (74%, -5 pp) and Malta (88%, -5 pp). 

50 

EU27ELESLUFRLVATBEBGFICZITLTNLHRPLHUROSIDKCYPTSEIESKEEMTDEJan/Feb 202385909390827876888086748786929091886984918990918975748880Δ Jun/Jul 2022=p4p4p4p2p2p2p1p1p1====q1q1q2q2q2q3q3q3q3q4q4q5q5q6Jan/Feb 202310746811191010519107788102310451451414714Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1q2q1==q5=q1q4q3=p1q4=p1p2p3p1=p1p1=q2p2q3p3p4p4Jan/Feb 2023533410115210973712128656956111256Δ Jun/Jul 2022q1q2q3q4q2p3q2=p3p2=q1p4==q1q1p1p2p2p2p3p5p2p7p2p1p2Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE3.11 Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.Increasing energy efficiency of buildings, transport, and goods will make us less dependent on energy producers outside the EU (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In every EU Member State, more than six in ten respondents 
agree that “reducing imports of oil and gas and investing 
in renewable energy is important for our overall security”. 
Levels of agreement are highest in Malta (94%), Denmark (93%), 
and in Spain and Sweden (both 92%), while respondents are most 
likely  to  agree  “totally”  in  Denmark  (70%),  Sweden  (68%)  and 
Cyprus (65%). 

By  contrast,  around  a  quarter  of  respondents  disagree  with  the 
statement  in  Czechia  (27%),  and  in  Slovakia  and  Romania  (both 
24%).  

In ten Member States,  there has been an increase in agreement 
since June-July 2022 that “reducing imports of oil and gas and 
investing in renewable energy is important for our overall 
security”. Agreement has fallen in 14 countries, and stayed the 
same in three. 

The largest increases in agreement can be found in Latvia (79%, 
+5  percentage  points)  and  Spain  (92%,  +4  pp).  The  largest 
decreases can be seen in Ireland (87%, -6 pp), Estonia (66%, -6 
pp), Slovakia (65%, -6 pp) and Cyprus (89%, -5 pp). 

51 

EU27LVESITLTBGDKFRMTNLROLUATSIBECZELHRHUSEDEFIPLPTCYEEIESKJan/Feb 202384799289896993819486698979848468879088928284908989668765Δ Jun/Jul 2022=p5p4p3p3p1p1p1p1p1p1===q1q1q1q1q1q1q2q2q3q4q5q6q6q6Jan/Feb 2023111249418573122471811132710810713892517824Δ Jun/Jul 2022=q6q2q1q7=q1q1q1q1=p1=q2=p1p1=p1p1p1q2p3p1p1=p5q2Jan/Feb 202359427132123274353532215819617511Δ Jun/Jul 2022=p1q2q2p4q1====q1q1=p2p1==p1==p1p4=p3p4p6p1p8Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE3.12 Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.Reducing imports of oil and gas and investing in renewable energy is important for our overall security (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In  all  27  EU  Member  States,  at  least  two  thirds  of 
respondents agree that “EU Member States should jointly 
buy  energy  from  other  countries  to  get  a  better  price”. 
Levels of agreement are highest in Malta (95%), Cyprus (92%), and 
in Ireland and Poland (both 90%). Respondents are most likely to 
agree “totally” in Cyprus (68%), and in Malta and Slovenia (both 
61%). 

Respondents are least likely to agree that “EU Member States 
should  jointly  buy  energy  from  other  countries  to  get  a 
better  price”  in  Romania  (66%),  Bulgaria  (68%)  and  Slovakia 
(69%).  

Since  June-July  2022,  the  level  of  agreement  on  whether  “EU 
Member  States  should  jointly  buy  energy  from  other 
countries to get a better price” has increased in six Member 
States.  The  largest  increase  can  be  seen  in  Italy  (88%,  +  3pp). 
There  has  been  no  change  in  six  EU  Member  States,  while 
agreement  has  declined  in  15  countries,  most  notably  Slovakia 
(69%,  -6  pp),  Belgium  (84%,  -5  pp),  Greece  (85%,  -5  pp)  and 
Germany (79%, -5 pp). 

52 

EU27ITMTDKLVNLATBGESFRLTLUSICZCYSEEEHRPLPTROHUFIIEBEDEELSKJan/Feb 202382889587848579688777898985769277788690896680759084798569Δ Jun/Jul 2022q1p3p2p1p1p1p1======q1q1q1q2q2q2q2q2q3q3q4q5q5q5q6Jan/Feb 2023129388111718712571019518101082261614514161220Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1q2q1q2q2q2p1=p2p1q3=q1p2p1q3q1p1p1=p2p2q3p2p5p5p4=Jan/Feb 2023632584414611645535124298411525311Δ Jun/Jul 2022=q1q1p1p1p1q2=q2q1p3=p1q1=p4p3p1p1p2=p1p6p2==p1p6Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE3.13 Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.EU Member States should jointly buy energy from other countries to get a better price (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In 18 EU Member States, at least eight in ten respondents 
agree that “in the long run, renewable energy can limit the 
price we pay for our energy consumption”. Respondents are 
most  likely  to  agree  with  the  statement  in  Malta  (94%),  Croatia 
(90%), and in Cyprus, Denmark and Poland (all 89%).  

The  proportions  that  “totally  agree”  are  highest  in  Malta  (65%), 
Cyprus (64%), Slovenia (63%) and Denmark (62%). 

Levels of agreement are lowest in Estonia (62%), Romania (65%), 
and in Czechia and Slovakia (both 67%). 

Since June-July 2022, there has been an increase in agreement in 
12 Member States that “in the long run, renewable energy can 
limit  the  price  we  pay  for  our  energy  consumption”. 
Agreement has decreased in 12 countries and stayed the same in 
three. 

The largest increases in agreement can be seen in Greece (82%, 
+7  percentage  points),  Luxembourg  (84%,  +5  pp)  and  Finland 
(82%, +4 pp). Agreement has decreased the most in Ireland (84%, 
-7 pp), Portugal (84%, -7 pp), Estonia (62%, -7 pp) and Slovakia 
(67%, -7 pp). 

53 

EU27ELLUFIBGESITBELTHUMTNLSIDKHRPLFRCZDELVATROSECYEEIEPTSKJan/Feb 202380828482718788868488948685899089726776767265808962848467Δ Jun/Jul 2022=p7p5p4p3p3p3p2p1p1p1p1p1===q1q2q2q2q3q5q5q6q7q7q7q7Jan/Feb 202313138716791171041111789172617112126117179421Δ Jun/Jul 2022=q4q3q8q3p1q1q3q3q1p1q1q1q1=p1p2p1p2q2p1p4q4p4p1p5p3q2Jan/Feb 202375811136339223442211771379942171212Δ Jun/Jul 2022=q3q2p4=q4q2p1p2=q2==p1=q1q1p1=p4p2p1p9p2p6p2p4p9Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE3.10 Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.In the long run, renewable energy can limit the price we pay for our energy consumption (%) 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In  all  EU  Member  States,  more  than  half  of  respondents 
agree  that  “[they]  have  recently  taken  action  to  reduce 
[their] own energy consumption, or [they] plan to do so in 
the  near  future”,  and  at  least  three  quarters  of  respondents 
agree with this statement in 23 Member States. 

Agreement  is  highest  among  respondents  in  Malta  and  the 
Netherlands (both 92%), as well as in Luxembourg (90%), and in 
Spain  and  Finland  (both  87%).  Agreement  is  lowest  in  Bulgaria 
(59%), Romania (64%) and Slovakia (70%). 

Respondents in the Netherlands (67%) are most likely to say they 
“totally agree” that they have recently taken action or plan to do 
so, followed by those in Denmark (62%) and Finland (57%). 

In 22 Member States, there has been an increase since June-July 
2022 in the proportion that agrees that they “have recently taken 
action to reduce [their] own energy consumption, or [they] plan to 
do  so  in  the  near  future”.  The  largest  increases  can  be  found  in 
Sweden (86%, + 14 pp), Finland (87%, +11 pp), Latvia (75%, +11 
pp) and Greece (78%, +10 pp). 

Agreement  has  decreased  in  four  Member  States:  Ireland  (78%,  
-8 pp), Cyprus (77%, -7 pp), Slovakia (70%, -3 pp) and Romania 
(64%, -1 pp). There has been no change in Malta 

54 

EU27SELVFIELDKHUNLLTPTLUFRCZEEESBGHRATITSIBEDEPLMTROSKCYIEJan/Feb 202381867587788579927877908177778759867684738480839264707778Δ Jun/Jul 2022p3p14p11p11p10p9p9p9p8p8p6p5p4p4p4p3p3p3p2p2p1p1p1=q1q3q7q8Jan/Feb 202316131910211419720188132017113312211324151816634242117Δ Jun/Jul 2022q3q15q10q12q11q8q9q9q8q8q6q6q3q4q3q4q3q3q2q2q1=q1=p2p1p6p7Jan/Feb 20233163112125263628233312122625Δ Jun/Jul 2022=p1q1p1p1q1=====p1q1=q1p1=====q1==q1p2p1p1Total 'Agree'Total 'Disagree'Don't knowQE3.14 Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.You have recently taken action to reduce your own energy consumption or you plan to do so in the near future (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

People who have difficulties paying their bills most of the time are 
less likely to agree with all of the various statements. For example, 
78% of those who have difficulties most of the time agree that 
“the EU should reduce its dependency on Russian  sources 
of energy as soon as possible”, compared with 87% of those 
who never or almost never have difficulties paying bills. 

Respondents’ answers are influenced by their overall image of the 
EU. For example, 88% of respondents whose overall image of the 
EU is positive agree that “EU Member States should jointly buy 
energy from other countries to get a better price”,, compared 
with 71% of those whose image of the EU is negative.  

In the socio-demographic data, results are very similar for men 
and  women,  and  results  are  mostly  consistent  across  the  age 
groups,  with  only  some  slight  variations.  For  some  statements, 
however, older respondents are more likely to agree than younger 
respondents,  and  this  applies  to  the  following  statements:  “EU 
Member  States  should  jointly  buy  energy  from  other 
countries to get a better price”, “the EU should reduce its 
dependency  on  Russian  sources  of  energy  as  soon  as 
possible”  and  “you  have  recently  taken  action  to  reduce 
your own energy consumption, or you plan to do so in the 
near future”. 

There  is  very  little  difference  according  to  level  of  education. 
However,  on  some  statements,  levels  of  agreement  tend  to  be 
slightly  higher  among  respondents  who  remained  in  education 
until the age of 20 or older, compared with those who left at the 
age  of  15  or  below.  The  largest  difference  between  these  two 
groups lies in the proportion who agree that “increasing energy 
efficiency of buildings,  transport, and  goods will make us 
less dependent on energy producers outside the EU”. Almost 
nine in ten (88%) respondents who completed education at age 20 
or older agree with the statement, compared with 81% of those 
who left education at the age of 15 or younger. 

55 

 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

56 

QE3The EU should invest massively in renewable energies, such as wind and solar powerIncreasing energy efficiency of buildings, transport, and goods will make us less dependent on energy producers outside the EU The EU should reduce its dependency on Russian sources of energy as soon as possibleReducing imports of oil and gas and investing in renewable energy is important for our overall securityEU Member States should jointly buy energy from other countries to get a better priceYou have recently taken action to reduce your own energy consumption or you plan to do so in the near futureIn the long run, renewable energy can limit the price we pay for our energy consumptionEU2786858484828180Man86868484838180Woman8784858481828115-248784818477758225-398785858379808040-548786858483848155 +8684868585827915-8681848483807816-198583838382807920+89888786838481Still studying89878486767683Self- employed86878384818580Managers89899088858582Other white collars89878685828483Manual workers85818181797978House persons84838481828179Unemployed85828282817880Retired86848585858179Students89878486767683Most of the time81797879787675From time to time84828281797979Almost never/ Never89878786858382The working class84838182817878The lower middle class86848483818079The middle class87868685838382The upper middle class89899288868583The upper class86869086898482Positive94919392888688Neutral85828382807978Negative73747072717566Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsConsider belonging toEducation (End of)Please tell to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.  (% - Total 'Agree')GenderAgeImage of the EU 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

3. 

Economic  challenges  in  the 
EU 

Most  Europeans  think  that  ‘NextGenerationEU’  can 
be  an  effective  measure  to  respond  to  the  current 
economic challenges 

The  majority  of  Europeans  (54%,  -2  percentage  points  since 
June-July  2022)  think  that  the  recovery  plan  of  the  EU, 
‘NextGenerationEU’,  can  be  an  effective  measure  to 
respond to the current economic challenges. This includes 7% 
(no change) who think it can be “very effective” and 47% (-2 pp) 
who say it can be “fairly effective”. 

By contrast, around three in ten (31%, +1 pp) think that it is not 
effective,  including  25%  (no  change)  who  think  it  is  “not  very 
effective” and 6% (+1 pp) who say it is “not at all effective”18. 

Results have remained stable since June-July 2022. 

18 QE5. The European Union has designed a recovery plan of more than 800 
billion  euros,  NextGenerationEU,  to  support  the  economy  through  grants 

and loans. How effective or not do you think that this measure can be to 
respond to the current economic challenges? 

57 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

In 25 EU Member  States,  a  majority of respondents think 
that  ‘NextGenerationEU’  can  be  an  effective  measure  to 
respond to the current economic challenges, most notably in 
Malta  (83%),  Ireland  (82%)  and  Poland  (78%).  The  country  with 
the highest proportion of respondents who see ‘NextGenerationEU’ 
as “very effective” is by far Malta (34%). 

In  two  countries,  respondents  are  more  likely  to  think  that  the 
recovery plan can be ‘not effective’ rather than ‘effective’: Czechia 
(43%  not  effective  and  38%  effective)  and  France  (36%  not 
effective and 34% effective). 

In ten Member States, there has been an increase since June-July 
2022  in  the  proportion  that  thinks  ‘NextGenerationEU’  can  be 
effective. The proportion has decreased in 14 countries and stayed 
the same in the other three Member States. 

The proportion that thinks ‘NextGenerationEU’ can be effective has 
decreased the most in Belgium (54%, -10 pp), Czechia (38%, -9 
pp),  Hungary  (54%,  -7  pp),  Romania  (57%,  -6  pp)  and  Slovenia 
(45%, -6 pp).  

largest 

increases 

thinks 
The 
‘NextGenerationEU’ can be effective can be found in Cyprus (67%, 
+ 13 pp), the Netherlands (63%, +9 pp) and Finland (51%, +7 pp). 

the  proportion 

that 

in 

58 

EU27CYNLFILULVIEELLTPLSEDKHRITBGSKEEESMTATDEFRPTROSIHUCZBEJan/Feb 202354676351594582526178565468655350385383545034485745543854Δ Jun/Jul 2022q2p13p9p7p5p4p3p2p1p1p1===q1q2q3q3q3q3q4q4q5q6q6q7q9q10Jan/Feb 20233127293221369391914332923272635243610323436293241324335Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1q5q10q12p5q5q4q2q9q1q10q8q1q1p3q6q2p3q1q1p6p4p5p5p1p6p4p3Jan/Feb 2023156817201999208111798211538117141630231114141911Δ Jun/Jul 2022p1q8p1p5q10p1p1=p8=p9p8p1p1q2p8p5=p4p4q2==p1p5p1p5p7Total 'Effective'Total 'Not effective'Don't knowQE5 The European Union has designed a recovery plan of more than 800 billion euros, NextGenerationEU, to support the economy through grants and loans. How effective or not do you think that this measure can be to respond to the current economic challenges? (%) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

The  socio-demographic  data  show 
that  a  majority  of 
respondents in most groups think that ‘NextGenerationEU’ can be 
an  effective  measure  to  respond  to  the  current  economic 
challenges.  

The  proportion  that  think  ‘NextGenerationEU’  can  be  effective  is 
highest among 15-24 year olds (58%), those still studying (60%), 
those  who  remained  in  education  until  the  age  of  20  or  older 
(57%),  managers  (61%),  white  collar  workers  (62%),  those  who 
never  or  almost  never  have  difficulties  paying  bills  (57%),  and 
those  who  consider  themselves  as  belonging  to  the  upper  class 
(70%), upper middle class (63%) or middle class (60%) of society. 

The groups that are least likely to think ‘NextGenerationEU’ can be 
effective  are  those  who  left  education  by  the  age  of  15  (47%), 
house persons (44%), unemployed respondents (43%), people who 
have  difficulties  paying  their  bills  most  of  the  time  (35%)  and 
those who consider themselves as belonging to the working class 
(44%) or lower middle class (45%) of society.  

59 

QE5Total 'Effective'Total 'Not effective'Don't knowEU27543115Man543313Woman53301715-2458251725-3955321340-5455341155 +51311815-47332016-1953331420+573013Still studying602317Self- employed553411Managers612712Other white collars62299Manual workers513712House persons443719Unemployed433720Retired503020Students602317Most of the time354817From time to time533512Almost never/ Never572716The working class443620The lower middle class453817The middle class602812The upper middle class632611The upper class70219Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying billsConsider belonging toEducation (End of)The European Union has designed a recovery plan of more than 800 billion euros, NextGenerationEU, to support the economy through grants and loans. How effective or not do you think that this measure can be to respond to the current economic challenges?  (% - EU)GenderAge 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
Winter 2022-2023 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

CONCLUSION 

60 

 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 98 
The EU’s response to the war in Ukraine 

This report examines the attitudes of Europeans towards the war 
in Ukraine and its consequences. 

and that “Member States’ purchase of military equipment should 
be better coordinated”.  

There is slightly less support for increased spending on defence, 
although around seven in ten Europeans agree that “more money 
should be spent on defence in the EU” and that “the EU needs to 
reinforce its capacity to produce military equipment”. In each case, 
around one in five disagree. 

Europeans  are  positive  towards  the  benefits  of  renewable 
energy. There is widespread agreement that “the EU should invest 
massively in renewable energies, such as wind and solar power”, 
that “reducing imports of oil and gas and investing in renewable 
energy is important for our overall security” and that “in the long 
run, renewable energy can limit the price we pay for our energy 
consumption”. 

On  energy  security,  high  proportions  agree  that  “increasing 
energy efficiency of buildings, transport, and goods will make us 
less dependent on energy producers outside the EU” and that “EU 
Member States should jointly buy energy from other countries to 
get a better price”. In addition, more than eight in ten agree that 
“the EU should reduce its dependency on Russian sources of energy 
as soon as possible”. 

Around eight in ten Europeans say they have recently taken action 
to reduce their own energy consumption, or plan to do so in 
the near future, a slight increase from the proportion seen in June-
July 2022. 

Given  the  concern  that  Europeans  express  over  the  economic 
consequences of the war in Ukraine, it is reassuring that over half 
of  respondents  think  that  the  recovery  plan  of  the  EU, 
‘NextGenerationEU’, can be an effective measure to respond to 
the current economic challenges, although three in ten think that 
it is not effective. 

Throughout  the  survey,  results  are  generally  consistent  across 
socio-demographic  characteristics  such  as  gender  and  age. 
The  main  variation  is  linked  to  the  respondents’  financial 
situation. Respondents who have difficulties paying bills and who 
consider themselves to belong to lower social classes tend to be 
less positive towards the response to the war by their government 
and the EU, and they are also more concerned about the economic 
implications.  

Overall,  the  majority  of  Europeans  are  satisfied  with  the 
response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, both by their national 
government  and  by  the  EU.  These  attitudes  have  remained  very 
similar to those observed in the previous survey in June-July 2022. 

Attitudes to the EU response are particularly positive in Portugal, 
Ireland,  Poland,  Denmark  and  Finland.  At  the  same  time,  a 
substantial  minority  of  Europeans  are  dissatisfied  with  the 
response  by  their  government  and  the  EU,  and  in  five  Member 
States, respondents are more likely to be dissatisfied than satisfied 
with  the  EU  response:  Greece,  Estonia,  Cyprus,  Slovakia  and 
Slovenia. 

When asked about the actions taken by the EU in response to 
the  Russian  invasion,  Europeans  are  mostly  positive,  although 
attitudes have become slightly less positive since June-July 2022.  

At least three quarters of respondents agree with actions such as 
providing humanitarian support to the people affected by the war, 
welcoming  in  the  EU  people  fleeing  the  war,  providing  financial 
support to Ukraine, and imposing economic sanctions on Russian 
government, companies, and individuals.  

There  is  slightly  less  support  for  other  actions:  banning  state-
owned media such as Sputnik and Russia Today from broadcasting 
in  the  EU,  and  financing  the  purchase  and  supply  of  military 
equipment  to  Ukraine.  Although  around  two  thirds  of 
Europeans  support  these  actions,  there 
is  also  some 
opposition, from around a quarter of respondents. 

Support for the EU’s actions tends to be highest in Sweden, Finland 
and the Netherlands, and lowest in Bulgaria and Slovakia.  

When asked about the economic consequences of the war, more 
than  eight  in  ten  Europeans  agree  that  the  war  in  Ukraine  has 
serious economic consequences for their country, and this applies 
to almost all respondents in Cyprus, Greece and Slovakia. Around 
six  in  ten  agree  that  the  war  in  Ukraine  has  serious  financial 
consequences  for  them  personally.  Results  have  remained 
consistent with the survey carried out in June-July 2022. 

Europeans continue to express concerns over the security risk to 
the EU and Member States. Around eight in ten Europeans agree 
that the invasion of Ukraine is a threat to the security of the EU, 
and three in four agree that it is a threat to the security of their 
own  country.  The  threat  to  their  country’s  security  is  felt  most 
strongly by respondents in Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, Finland and 
Portugal. 

In considering the consequences of the war in Ukraine, the survey 
covered  two  other  main  themes:  co-operation  and  spending  on 
defence, and energy security and the use of renewable energy. On 
both  issues,  results  have  remained  very  consistent  with  the 
previous survey in June-July 2022. 

There is strong support for co-operation and co-ordination of 
defence  in  the  EU.  At  least  eight  in  ten  respondents  agree  that 
“co-operation in defence matters at EU level should be increased” 

61 

 
 
 
 
Special Eurobarometer 500 
Future of Europe